Lina Hatem

Archive & Church

Architecture [M.Arch]

This proposed archival space inside Christ Detroit Church aims to unite people by acknowledging the historical and cultural significance of Black Bottom's past. It also seeks to maintain the artistic and functional integrity of its historic roots. The impact of the 1964 construction of I-375 through downtown Detroit is examined, with particular focus on the predominantly African American communities of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, as influenced by the State and Defense Highway Act of 1956. Through extensive research and analysis of these neighborhoods, Christ Detroit Church emerges as a prime example of an existing historical building that embodies community value.