Project: The Crown Jewel

Location: Detroit, USA

Iconic cities around the world are identified by their skylines. An urban void overlooking the river and the downtown skyscrapers holds great potential to develop into a bold and iconic structure contributing to the city’s skyline.
As a tribute to the city’s past, our design expresses glimpses of its origin. Our concept evolved from the idea of the French and the tribes who founded this city that we today call Detroit.
The French|Chippewa(Ojibwe)|Potawatomi (Bodawotomi) | Ottawa (Odawa).
The three towers represent the tribes and their characteristics.
The business tower represents the characteristics of The Chippewa tribe. The offices and the green roof garden symbolize their practices in trade and water-based medicinal farming.
The Potawatomi tribes were known for their stationary yet progressive lifestyle. The calming and earthy, yet modern residential tower symbolizes these characteristics of the tribe.
The Ottawa tribes lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, quite similar to the modern hotel customers who are always on the go. The hotel tower was hence a tribute to the Ottawas.
The key architectural element gluing the whole building together is the Central Pyramid housing the Winter garden. This small yet powerful and significant element represents the French involvement in the city’s founding.
Like the tribes wore their hats to signify their pride and power, These towers stand tall in pride, signifying the origin of a new Detroit city with this being “The Crown Jewel” on the city’s new Hat.

A collaboration with Amalgrain Studio.