Detroit Architecture

Detroit has amazing architecture. Some of it is in ruins, some of it is restored and used daily.

Bill and I were in Detroit for the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show, or Auto show for short). As we left Cobo and headed to lunch, I was keen on taking photos from the car of some of the amazing buildings the Motor City has to offer.

I snapped these while we waited at stop lights.

 I cleverly snapped a picture of the name over the door.

 Again, I captured the name of the building. I'm so clever.

 This is the Guardian Building. 

It supposedly has an amazing lobby. "Supposedly" because I've not seen it and am told about it by everyone; mostly my husband every time we pass the building, or cross the county line into Detroit.

 Buhl Building (see, I did that so if you asked, I would know)

 The County Courthouse, behind the man walking, almost out of view. It is not currently in use.

 I was actually taking a picture of the red brick/stone building in the middle of this photograph but then I noticed the skyscraper behind it. Bonus!

This is the Presbyterian Church (?) See? I didn't take a photo of the sign and now I don't remember. 

It is a church for sure. Let's just stick with Presbyterian.

And this, this is downtown from the top of Cobo Hall. This is a photo from last year. It was gray, more gray and more shades of gray this year. 

 This is from the RenCen c. August 2013, when we were in Detroit for our anniversary. You cannot see the roof of Cobo Hall (I was hoping you could).

This is looking down from our room. You can see the line of traffic into the tunnel (to Canada), at the top of the photograph.

There are also many abandoned buildings that people flock to and refer to as "ruined porn". There are books and blogs full of photos of these buildings. 

Slowly, very slowly, it seems as though life is being breathed back into the city. There are sections of the city that are full of life and bursting with energy. Then you pass through blocks of unending blocks of burned out shells of buildings. Stately homes and neighborhoods, empty and lonely. A ghost town of the present. It's eerie and beautiful all at the same time. It feels like you're in another country, a country torn apart from war. 

Detroit has a lot to offer but it continues to be the ugly step-child. Architecture buffs, historians, and hard-working citizens don't know what to make of it. It's a good example of too much sprawl. Everyone moved to the suburbs and left the city to rot. A few stayed behind and stood their ground. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have Detroit. She's making a come-back. 

And while I won't ever make the mistake of taking the Grand River exit off of 696 where I called Bill when I got to 7-mile and he was heard throughout the Barnes & Noble screaming, "LOCK YOUR DOORS & TURN AROUND!!!" I will go to the Motor City any chance I get. I will go to Tigers games, the Auto show, and other events. I will go for delicious dinners, to visit friends, and to fly out of DTW. I will take pictures to share, to show you and everyone else that Detroit is not the ugly step-child, but the prodigal son. Returning to the former glory to celebrate the best thing that it's known for… 

Cars.

Detroit, Motor City

The designs that come out of that city are beautiful.

If you like cars. Or can at least appreciate them.

Since Bill and I met, fifteen years ago (!), we have been to the North American International Auto Show many times. At least half a dozen, which doesn't sound like much until I point out that we didn't live in the midwest for five years (since we've been married). And, actually, Bill has been every year except for those five.

There have been good years and there have been blah years. Cars that didn't impress, manufacturer's displays that were bland, technology that didn't wow or impress. 

But the years that have been good, are really, really good.

This year was a good year. A really, really, really good year.

I appreciate the small details and when it's a good year the displays are superb. Every last detail is thought through. From the floors of the displays, to the backdrops, to the style of the information booths. It's all there and it's all impressive.

This year, we parked on the roof of Cobo. That was a first for me. We got there early enough, and as you can see, it was a good day to park on the roof (this of course was a completely different picture when we left the show three hours later).

No, this is not a concept car. Well, not for the 2015 year. It was back in 1962. It's the Mustang I. Remember your history, remember where you came from. That's forward thinking from Ford (I'm being serious, not sarcastic when I say this).

The badge. How American is that?

This is a 1932 Lincoln KB Deitrich Coupe (part of the collection from the Gilmore Museum in Kalamazoo, a trip that we need to take soon). Another car company remembering their past (yes, they're a part of Ford, so there's probably a reason they are both remembering their history, it's still an important lesson). 

Those white walls are gorgeous!

Again, it's all in the details, like the signage.

It's a show room for each car manufacturer. While Bill drools over the cars, the performance, the size of the engine, liter, etc. I am impressed by the big picture. That all of these small details work together to make up this uber impressive show.

 I realize these signs aren't giving a great perspective. They are on the display walls, and are probably anywhere from two to three feet tall, at least.

And there's always the Corvette. What a machine.

 I appreciate the technology, the artistry, the design, and the love of and for cars that Detroit has maintained.

finally photos

I took some pictures from the North American International Auto Show when we were there on Saturday. I wanted to share a couple of them with you (you can see the rest of them on facebook). Or you can read about my post from the show here.

A detail of the headlights on the Audi.

Greg and I check out the back seat of a VW, plenty of legroom!


Bill and Dave check out the interior dash.



The clock in a Chrysler


the hubcap of the Mustang

D-town

Detroit, Motor City. We spent a couple of hours at the North American International Auto Show today. It has been a tradition, I think if you pay taxes in Michigan you are required to go, since Bill and I have been together. We only missed a couple of years when we were living in other states and couldn't make it back. Bill has been going since he could drive, and since we moved back to Grand Rapids, we have included Dave and Greg.

One thing I have always noticed about Detroit (and love) is the noticeable lack of foreign cars on the roads. This was more pronounced when we came back from Jersey where there are many more foreign cars vs. domestic on the roads. You can often count on one hand the number of foreign cars you pass while driving anywhere in the Detroit area. That alone makes me proud to be an American and a Michigananianander.

One thing I noticed this year was the size of the Ford display vs. all the others. All the American displays were also larger than they have been in recent years, but Ford was truly impressive. The last two years were almost non-existent and very sad.

I think the first year I ever went, in 2000 was the most impressive, at least to me. There were concept cars everywhere you turned, there were full displays on both levels (it's basically reduced to the one floor now), and it was huge. I know it wasn't just because it was my first time. It was huge. Then Sept. 11, 2001 happened and it got smaller. Then the economy crashed (which coincided with the price of oil going way up) and the American car companies were in trouble. It was obvious.

This year was better and I enjoyed it. I'm sure you can check out Bill's blog and he has a very different opinion. That's okay, that's why we go and why cars are designed and not just mass-produced. I have photos, which I hope to get on here tomorrow.

*editor's note: we only took 3500 steps at the auto show. We were able to park in a garage where there was a people mover stop and we never had to walk outside except from the house to the car. That was a first since it is the coldest weekend of the year so far (which is typical for our car show visit).