Carriage House MakerSpace

Community-S.C.A.L.E. Production 

We launched the Freedom Dreams Carriage House three years ago as a Design//Build//Restore Makerspace. Over time, it has evolved into a regenerative hub within our Detroit network, deepening connections to the land through woodcraft, hands-on education, and collaborative design and building. This space has been instrumental in creating foundational structures and furniture that support our community work—from garden beds for growing and sharing food, to the Shelf of Life, Birwood Bins for neighborhood waste collection, and larger gathering spaces like the Meeting House and Mariposa Pavilion, which foster community reflection and connection. Notably, our CanDo garden resource station, in partnership with Freedom Freedom Growers, addresses the urgent effects of climate change in the Jefferson/Chalmers Community.

Each project allows us to practice Community-S.C.A.L.E Production, a methodology that integrates local needs, materials, skills, and capacity. This approach has positioned our Design//Build pedagogy as a community-driven model for neighborhood development. As neighbors actively participate in creating small infrastructures—such as garden beds, seating, and pavilions—our collective skill set expands. This process inspires us to reclaim the means of production within our own community, strengthening both our capabilities and our agency in shaping our environment.

Embedded in our process is the practice of a Circular Economy. We challenge the traditional take-make-dispose model of the Linear Economy by upcycling materials often seen as waste, giving them new life as educational tools and neighborhood infrastructure. This practice reflects Detroit’s long history of reclaiming overlooked resources and transforming them into community assets. Across the city, numerous community organizations are stepping into leadership roles around education and land use, embodying a shared vision of sustainability, resilience, and self-determination.