Monroe Blocks

A new green nerve center in downtown Detroit

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Rasmus Astrup

Design Principal, Senior Partner

Location

Detroit, US

Size

18,000 m2

Year

2016 — 2022

Client

Bedrock Management Service LLC

Role

Lead landscape architect

Partners & Collaborators

Schmidt Hammer Lassen, BuroHappold

SLA’s landscape design for Monroe Blocks adds nature, human scale and new urban spaces to the major mixed-used development that transforms the historic heart of Detroit.

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Monroe Blocks combines high-rise with low-rise residential units, green roof top terraces, pedestrian walkways and plazas. The series of new urban spaces designed by SLA reestablish the historic alleyways and bind together the city center while closely connecting the public realm both indoors and outdoors. A new, native vegetation emphasizes each of the urban spaces’ unique identity and character while adding human scale, social values and a local identity.

The result: A greener, cleaner and more pleasant urban environment for a vibrant contemporary city life.

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