Architecture is a creative media that analyzes what is, while imagining what could and should be. Located in Los Angeles’ Art District, A+D Museum's current exhibit, The Architectural Imagination, is a showcase of re-imagining and rebuilding the outdated industrial urbanscape of Detroit, Michigan. Before coming to Los Angeles, the exhibition premiered during the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. 

During the mid-20th century, Detroit was a booming urban center bursting with blue collar and white collar families benefiting from the automotive industry. However, as automotive industries began to move their factories to cheaper markets and with the rather recent American automotive bankruptcies and government bailouts, Detroit has been challenged with repurposing the remnants of an abandoned era. The projects showcased in the exhibit present ideas for compelling modern design along with appropriate programming (think atriums, markets, and green spaces) to regenerate existing neighborhoods back into thriving business centers and healthy residential quarters.

Each project engages patrons through scaled models, prototypes, drawings, digital presentations, and one even uses stereoscope glasses to create 3D rendered images. The beautiful large scale models make it easy to dive inside the projects, understanding how the site will generate positive energy back into the community. Some look like futuristic automobile factories others like intergalactic space stations, all of the projects have a sense of a greener, cleaner, and leaner re-industrial revolution. With less than a month left of The Architectural Imagination, be sure to check it out before the exhibit is unimagined on November 5, 2017.

Stereoscope Render

Also, be sure to visit the Lawrence Halprin exhibit on view at the museum as well. Spanning from National Parks to urban waterscapes to private oases, it is a photography exhibit of a selection of Halprin’s landscapes. This particular exhibit is part of a larger network of exhibits across Los Angeles, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Harpin.  Including an early-evening exhibit reception with ASLA on October 20th, 2017, learn more about all the upcoming Halprin events with A+D Museum and others by clicking here.