A proposal to create a heavily wooded park on the downtown riverfront has taken first place in the juried Detroit By Design competition, sponsored by the AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee. "The Forest (Fairy Tale Between the City and The Forest)" was submitted by New York City firm atelierWHY, led by South Korean designers Hyun Tek Yoon and Soo Bum You.
Located at a node of the city's radial street plan, the thick planting of trees would be punctuated by clearings and a knoll, envisioned as a setting for large-scale performing arts events. The project would remake the existing Hart Plaza and would retain existing work by Isamu Noguchi, but relocate his fountain to anchor a sunken garden and amphitheatre.
The nonprofit Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and a number of corporate partners also sponsored the competition.
(http://www.aiadetroitbydesign2012.com/submission-view.php?regNum=6619761)
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