Fairground Flats

Abstract

As a result of today’s economic downturn, many people are leaving the state of Michigan in pursuit of greener pastures. Accordingly, many of the unique traditions and lifestyles that people celebrate in this area have become increasingly ignored when designing within the state of Michigan due to a lack of knowledge about the state’s past. In order to combat this, architecture must seek to understand the primary aspects of a local community–its history, tradition and landscape among other things–so that it can become a culturally relevant and economically viable source of interest and pride within a neighborhood. By seeking out and embodying this type of inherent city identity, architecture can therefore produce renewed interest in Michigan’s distinctive vernacular through the physical manifestation of culturally relevant structures. In particular, the Alpena County fairgrounds located in Alpena County, Michigan provide an interesting location for the development of this project. The fairgrounds were chosen as the final location for this study not only because of their cultural significance within the area, but also because Alpena County itself has fallen victim to many of the problems associated with the post-industrial downturn. As a result, local commerce has consequently deteriorated. This creates a scenario by which the emptiness of the fairgrounds during the off-season is reflected in the perpetuating “emptiness” of Alpena County itself. In essence, the Alpena County Fair has become an isolated event of activity within an otherwise declining community atmosphere. As cities like Alpena continue to lose population, revitalization of the local environment becomes crucial to community survival. Instead of continuing to rely upon a dilapidated manufacturing market to stay relevant in today’s economy, therefore; Alpena must develop new ways of enhancing its national identity. In doing so, Alpena will not only become better equipped for handling the massive crowds present during the week of the fair, but the fairgrounds themselves will also transform into a renewed source of lasting identity and economy for the local neighborhood.