M I C H I G A N     C E N T R A L     S T A T I O N

AutoCAD & 3DsMax

Michigan Central Station served as the main train depot for the city of Detroit from 1913 to 1988, when it was abandoned. Its tall, arched ceilings and symmetrical division within its interior are capable of creating a suitable environment for modern-day activities. This project proposes to replenish the building with its original noise through carting in artists and craftsmen who would live/work in studios located in the tower of the building . Most of the ground floor’s original programming is still applicable to the new concept: retail spaces, restaurant, barbershop, and offices are all to be kept.
The original waiting room (now the Piazza) would remain a place of people—watching and chitter-chatting. The old, long benches would dwell in the present in the form of Platner chairs, surrounded by beverage kiosks and two grand staircases. One of them is equipped with its own seating arrangements through the rhythm of its treads. The second staircase leads to a reading balcony. All this is followed by a new jazz restaurant/bar, boutiques, and finally an ample space for modern art installations.Focusing on the Jazz Restaurant/Bar: the new floor plan resembles the original design. A very extensive bar reigns in the center of the space, formal dining tables rowed on the right and casual eating/drinking spaces occupy the rest. A wide and long hallway, the Promenade, separates the casual and formal dining areas. It also leads to the washrooms at the very back. The walkway is purposefully left unbroken so that anyone making their way to the washrooms is observed by everyone else, just like on a runway.