Makers in Detroit
In Detroit, we like to make things. Here's a short snipet on a class tour I took where we checked out Omnicorps. One of the many Maker-spaces/incubators in the Motor City.
Last week, my studio class was studying active groups or "agencies" that are located throughout Detroit. One of them was Omnicorps, located just kiddie corner to the Eastern Market. Detroit is filled with these kinds of spaces. Very unrefined, but highly active with people who are looking to start anything from a movement to a business.
What can we take from a place like Omnicorps? How does it define space? Normally in architecture and design, it is our goal to give a particular space a designation. Omnicorps is different, the first thing you notice walking in is how little separation there is between the different users. It's almost as if the space is built in layers, of these projects over the top of one another. Omnicorp's interpretation of space is not based on area or volume, but ideas. What does that mean? It means the ideas of the users defines how they use their space. One of the studios former students, Paul analyzed this throughout his project, by recording the movement of the users in the space. His findings show little structure or containment. He recorded these paths throughout the spaces and overlay them onto a plan of Omnicorps. The paths seemed to have taken this amoebic form as ideas evolved throughout the space. A user would start at their desk or drawing board a majority of the time during the hatch of their idea, then as it evolved into a reality, the user began to expand outwards to utilize resources, sometimes regressing to a particular location.
Omnicorps serves this kind of idea of space because of it's resources. It contains many tools and levels where ideas can cross paths as they develop. This is a healthy environment for ideas. Here's more images of the tour.
Click HERE for more information on the Omnicorps space and what they are about.
Play Ball!
Looking for something to do this summer. Check out the latest team in or near your local town, just look out for folks dressed in Victorian-era style clothing, maybe a canvas tarp, and a game that looks similar to the baseball you know of today!
Summer is just around the corner and there's a new local team in town! If you haven't heard, Richmond is now the home of a Vintage Baseball Team, the Richmond Bees Baseball Club is just in the beginning of it's 2015 season. Last week they hosted the Detroit Early Risers and will play many others throughout the Metro-Detroit area.
It's not the baseball you are use to, it's baseball before it became "America's game". The league plays under rules that were developed in the mid 1800s, back then the game was a gentleman sport. There's no cussing, spitting, and even no gloves! It's a high pace game with a lot of offense, the only defense was fielding since pitching at the time not how we see it today. Look around for these teams, they play at local parks in Royal Oak, Port Huron, to retired fields in Detroit, and especially Greenfield Village. It's a great time for the family and the curious!
Feels like Summer
Summer is here! Friday was sunny and a high of 75 degrees, Oakland University was holding it's annual SpringFest and it was full of activities. There were games, food, and lots of music! So what do you get when you have musical performances at a college?
Well you get this...
And this!
Talk about a busy day! It all started with the Battle of the Bands competition. Six local bands took the stage to perform their best 3 songs and whoever received the most voted (via. text) won a cash prize. H.R. Rustica was one of the bands performing, they had a strong showing!
Followed by other local bands such as the Accidents, Harold and Maude, Molly Todd, and Carved Out. All around great musical talent!
Then finally the performance that EVERYONE was waiting for. We The Kings took the stage and rocked out to an energized group of college kids. A perfect beginning to the evening festivities!
Once the show was over, everyone gathered over to the other stage for the final show. All I can say is that the pictures tell the story.
