University Archives

This study investigated contextual residential design and development in historic Detroit neighborhoods. The City of Detroit has a rich history that is conveyed through the residential neighborhoods throughout the city. With recent growth in population, the city needs to adapt with new construction and housing within the city. However, it is important that these new buildings and interventions are contextually compatible with those already existing as it will create a sense of belonging for residents (Van Laar, et al., 2024) and provide a cohesive neighborhood fabric. Research questions included: how can designers implement preservation tactics to preserve the historic integrity of Detroit neighborhoods? How can we guide new developments to support the historic integrity of Detroit neighborhoods? Literature review, diagramming, mapping exercises, and façade analyses were conducted to determine how the various elements of contextual design contribute to a cohesive streetscape and meeting modern needs and standards. Findings uncovered how contextual design can address the housing shortage throughout the city in a way that is responsive to the historic qualities in these neighborhoods.

Works Cited

Van Laar, Brian, et al. “What Matters When? – An Integrative Literature Review on Decision Criteria in Different Stages of the Adaptive Reuse Process.” Developments in the Built Environment, vol. 18, 2024, p. 100439.