Lafayette Park, Modernist residential district in Detroit, United States
Lafayette Park is a residential neighborhood on Detroit's east side spanning about 78 acres with glass-walled buildings, open green spaces, and pedestrian-oriented design throughout. The area includes several housing complexes with different building types, from apartment towers to townhouses, all built following modern design principles.
The neighborhood emerged in the 1950s from an urban renewal project that replaced the former Black Bottom district using federal funding. This transformation was part of a broader urban renewal movement that reshaped many historic neighborhoods across America.
The neighborhood's glass and steel buildings define daily life here, creating a sense of openness and modernity throughout the district. Wide windows and flat facades give the space a transparent quality that stands apart from surrounding Detroit neighborhoods.
The neighborhood is easy to explore on foot with wide sidewalks that make walking comfortable. Plan to spend several hours here to see the different building types and outdoor spaces throughout the area.
The area holds the largest concentration of buildings designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe outside of Germany and is protected as a National Historic Landmark. Around 186 housing units here demonstrate his consistent design language of glass and steel throughout the neighborhood.
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