Detroit’s Metabolism
February 25, 2016
Kresge Ford Building on the campus of CCS in Detroit by William Kessler. Photo by Jason R. Woods.
The Metabolism movement arose in Japan in response to a lack of cohesive city planning efforts after the first World War. The self-proclaimed Metabolists introduced their manifesto to the world in 1960 at an international design conference held in Japan. The philosophy was centered around the idea of “organic growth,” which was applied to buildings as well as entire cities. They felt that structures and cities should have the ability to be added on to or modified as time went on. Our needs change, populations grow and shrink, natural and man-made catastrophes occur; all of which were taken into account when developing the Metabolism manifesto.
Metabolism was ‘sustainable design’ before it became the term that we so generously use today. For the Metabolists, sustainable design meant to have the ability to adapt and change through virtually any circumstance and for any reason. The core of a building will generally remain static, but individual cells could be changed in and out, added on to, and so forth. A prominent architect in Michigan applied these principals to the main building on the campus of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. William Kessler designed the Kresge Ford Building with a 32×32 foot module that could be repeated and stacked as many times as the school needed at any point in the future.
Concrete cylinders at the corner of each module, or cell, house the mechanical systems. The exterior walls are then clad in brick and glass, while interior spaces are open and free of walls, per the Japanese way. The original manifestation of the structure was completed in 1975, and has not been added on to or modified since. It is worthwhile to note that it may be an odd building to the casual onlooker, but it won an AIA Honor Award upon its completion, and a 25 year award in 2000.
Should you ever find yourself on the campus of CCS (near the DIA), you may want to take a minute to check out the Yamasaki Building as well, it’s the glass building wrapped in the brick wall to the west.
Kresge Ford Building on the campus of CCS in Detroit by William Kessler. Photo by Jason R. Woods.
Kresge Ford Building on the campus of CCS in Detroit by William Kessler. Photo by Jason R. Woods.
Kresge Ford Building on the campus of CCS in Detroit by William Kessler. Photo by Jason R. Woods.
Kresge Ford Building on the campus of CCS in Detroit by William Kessler. Photo by Jason R. Woods.
