theARK Humankind after COVID-19, International Design Competition Architecture Images
theARK Humankind after COVID-19
Feb 2, 2021
theARK Humankind
Design: Kostow Greenwood Architects
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
theARK Humankind after COVID-19 international design competition
A solution from a team of architects and designers at Kostow Greenwood Architects addresses the demise of the physical retail industry, in particular antiquated large-scale shopping malls. The concept involves a dynamic mix of cultural space, public amenities, restaurants, retail and housing coming together as a new form of community center by re-purposing obsolete sites.

The proposed theatre building is nested within the preserved framework of the existing shopping mall. The open-air courtyard between the two buildings becomes a social gathering area suitable for locals and visitors alike Recognized as a finalist in theARK Humankind after Covid-19 international design competition, the detailed plan addresses economic redevelopment and community revitalization through adaptive reuse of shopping malls and creative place making for the performing arts. The Northland Center Mall in Detroit, an underperforming shopping venue, is used as a case study.
?Commercial real estate owners and developers, city planning officials, public parks officials, and community organizations could apply our project and programmatic model at various scales to both public and private uses,? explains Michael Kostow, Fo...