“The Architectural Imagination“ is an exhibition of new speculative architectural projects designed for specific sites in Detroit with far-reaching applications for cities around the world.

Organized by the U-M Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, the exhibition comes to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) after first opening at the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy last year.

As advocates of the power of architecture to construct culture and catalyze cities, curators Cynthia Davidson and Monica Ponce de Leon selected 12 visionary American architectural practices to produce new work that demonstrates the creativity and resourcefulness of architecture that addresses the social and urban issues of Detroit in the 21st century.

The exhibition emphasizes the importance and value of the architectural imagination in shaping forms and spaces into exciting future possibilities for all Detroit citizens. Detroit was once a center of American imagination, not only for the products it made—cars and music and much more—but also for its modern architecture and modern lifestyle, which captivated audiences worldwide. Now, like many post-industrial cities, Detroit is coping with a changed urban density and image that has generated much thinking in urban planning.

The Feb. 11 opening (4-6 p.m.) will feature an introduction by Dean Robert Fishman of the Taubman College and a presentation by curators Davidson and Ponce de Leon. An exhibition viewing and opening reception will immediately follow until 9 p.m.

MOCAD is located at 4454 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

The exhibition and related programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit are free to the public. Regular hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Sat. and Sun.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; closed Mon.-Tues. The exhibition is sponsored by U-M Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Anyone Corporation, and BNP Media-Architectural Record.