UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY - SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ADJUCT PROFESSOR
The Hip Hop Architecture Studio was a design-led academic studio rooted in community engagement, cultural identity, and urban transformation. As the course professor, along side Woodrow Hoffer II, I guided students through a semester-long exploration of the intersection between Hip Hop culture and the built environment, using Detroit’s Southwest and Corktown neighborhoods—anchored by Michigan Central Station—as the studio’s design focus.
Students engaged in collaborative and individual master planning, grounded in principles of Hip Hop Architecture and inspired by the community-driven work of cultural icons like Nipsey Hussle, Big Sean, and Pharrell Williams. The studio also drew from the scholarship and practice of Detroit-based architects Michael Ford and Dr. Craig Wilkins, integrating insights from the nationally recognized Hip Hop Architecture Camp.
Through a layered process of research, analysis, and design, students developed proposals that reflected the social, cultural, and spatial dynamics of the neighborhoods. Their work involved deep site analysis, mapping, demographic studies, and cultural research—culminating in individually selected site projects with comprehensive design presentations including floor plans, elevations, renderings, and urban strategies. The final deliverables not only showcased visionary architectural concepts but also positioned Hip Hop as a tool for storytelling, community building, and future city-making.
BRYAN MARTINEZ
In cities rich with deep cultural heritage, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Detroit, the concept of family is often central to the community's identity. The phrase 'Blood makes us family' is commonly used to resolve disputes, highlighting the importance of familial bonds. However, in many minority communities, the idea of family extends beyond blood relations, with the community itself becoming an integral part of that familial structure.
CARL JANZEN
The concept for Chicane Park emerged from the desire to reimagine and a new park for Michigan Central, creating a more dynamic and fluid experience akin to a well-composed song. Roosevelt Park, while a solid foundation, feels static and in need of a feature to enhance its usefulness. Its traditional flat terrain lacks the rhythm and variation that a space inspired by music should embody. By introducing hills and a more flowing design, Chicane Park mirrors the essence of music, especially freestyle, where every step and turn creates a unique "song" for each visitor.
As you navigate the park, you encounter branching paths that allow you to craft your own journey-much like how hip-hop redefines and remixes the unexpected into something transformative. Chicane Park is a seamless link between Michigan Central, New Lab, the Bagley Mobility Hub, and The Link. It invites people to move through these spaces with style and flow, following a thoughtfully designed path that encourages connection and creativity. The urban planning for Chicane Park integrates three distinctive buildings, each designed to prioritize community and functionality. These buildings are shaped like the tips of musical notes, symbolizing the rhythm and harmony of the park's design. I chose three buildings to reflect the concept of a triad in music—a foundational chord that represents balance, structure, and depth, much like the pillars of hip-hop: rhythm, movement, and expression. Each building offers top-level balconies with cafes, exhibition spaces, event venues, washrooms, and lockers. These features cater not only to Michigan Central's workers and visitors but also to bikers and pedestrians traveling to and from The Link.
Chicane Park is more than an urban space; it's a living, breathing composition that transforms how we move, connect, and experience the city-a testament to the adaptive, ever-evolving spirit of hip-hop.
NATASZA CHWIERUT
Roots and Routes is a project rooted in the vibrant intersection of culture, community, and creativity. Set at the crossroads of Corktown and Southwest Detroit, the site presents a compelling opportunity for transformation. Currently a mix of empty land and a truck repair company, the space is a blank canvas waiting to be filled with energy, purpose, and identity. With its prominent location and untapped potential, the project becomes not just an intervention but a statement: community deserves a place to gather, create, and thrive. The studio's overarching theme - Hip Hop - serves as both inspiration and foundation for this work. Hip-hop isn't just about music; it's a cultural movement defined by storytelling, self-expression, and reinvention. These values are woven into the project's DNA, from its emphasis on collaboration and creativity to its commitment to honoring heritage while inspiring innovation.
The name Roots and Routes reflects this duality. On one hand, it acknowledges the cultural roots that ground the project, particularly the strong Latin American textile traditions that have shaped Southwest Detroit. On the other, it represents the routes - connections between people, ideas, and Spaces - that the project seeks to create. This interplay between heritage and movement mirrors how hip-hop works, where past and present converge to shape the future.
At its heart, the project is a community hub, anchored by two buildings and a park. The Handcraft Center celebrates the artistry of traditional sewing techniques, offering spaces for workshops, exhibitions, and social gatherings. Fashion and textiles are integral to both the local community and the broader story of hip-hop, where style is a powerful form of self-expression. The Community Center complements this with co-working areas, an auditorium, and spaces designed to foster connection and collaboration.
LOLA BOUGHNER
Under the sheltered span of a bridge, Zona Libre emerges as a vibrant space, inspired by Lupe Fiasco's kick, push, which captures the freedom and resilience at the heart of skate culture. Positioned below the link, a trail connecting Corktown to southwest Detroit, Zona Libre is more than a skate park— it doubles as an amphitheater, welcoming skaters, bikers, and walkers into a fluid, community-driven environment. Rooted in Michigan central's vision of mobility, this space promotes movement and cultural expression. Local mexican food trucks enhance the atmosphere, making Zona Libre a haven where Detroit's energy and latin and hip-hop cultures collide, creating a unique celebration.
