Architecture Tourist

This folk Victorian will get major love

2012-01-29T11:27:00.003-05:00

Dan Souther from Round Here Renovation s wrote me about renovating this Folk Victorian in Grant Park. Thanks to Dan we can have a look at the "before" pictures.

The records say Year Built: 1920, Living Area: 1,552, Acres .1791.

It's not so hot from the sidewalk. Dan said they'll un-enclose and liberate the porch.

You get a better perspective from across the street. It has a handsome shape and familiar Grant Park proportions.

It's bigger and taller than it looks from the street. I count 3 chimneys.

The house wears a solitaire on it's gable.

My architect and sailing friend, Tim Cent, bought one of these in the late 70's for about $4,000 (Tim, where are you man, we'd love to see you) .

The house on the right is "new." It's ironic that this house, as beat up as it is, has survived to be renovated rather than torn down. It must have stayed livable for most of it's 90 years.

A bit of work to do first.

Imagine sitting on the big front porch.

I'm sure Dan and crew expect surprises. I'm sure they've taken a long look as the sills.

How good will this look? Whenever I see one of these as an art piece, I wonder about the house it came from.

The west side wall and windows are very nice.

Dan says, "The lovely faux-brick peel and stick rolls will also be removed to expose the original cedar lap siding (that looks to be in great condition courtesy of the peel and stick)."

This 360 video will shows the street:

I'll report.

Architects' bookshelf at Historical Concepts

2012-01-27T11:44:00.001-05:00

We toured Historical Concepts' Glenwood Park studio yesterday. (That would be "Historical Concepts Architects, Planners and Place-Makers.")

The ICAA put it on. (That would be the Southeast Chapter of the for Classical Architecture and Art.)

Honestly, I think they do these tours just for me.

David VanGroningen (blue shirt) and Clay Rokicki (@clayrokicki gesturing with his left arm) spent an hour or so showing us around while the rest of the architects kept right on working.

The books caught my eye, Classic Cracker tops this stack.

Post-its mark the right pages.

These books were helping a big house look less intimidating.

I met Peter Pennoyer at another ICAA event. Cool.

There is a bit from those books in these renderings.

The iPad is atop Palladio in Paul Knight's right-hand stack. (@PaulLKnight)

There are a couple of oldies in Paul's left stack and he pulled them down to show me.

The Practical Exemplar of Architecture (1907) by Sir Mervyn Edmund Macartney, 1853-1932 is in several volumes. It has pictures with measured drawings.

American Landscape Architecture, Edited by P.H. Elwood, Jr is from 1924.

We had a big time. Thanks to David, Clay, Historical Concepts, ICAA and fellow tourists.

Top popped - adding 2nd floor in Morningside.

2012-01-26T10:04:00.000-05:00

Built in 1930, 1730 square feet on 1/5 acre, it's getting taller.

This wasn't it's prettiest day.

I caught this one before they started demolition.

The houses on either side have already be done; they are big now.

This was in pretty good shape, it was holding it's on.

That was then.

This is now.

They've added a foundation for a big front porch. Looks like they are keeping most of the front. Good idea.

There's going to be some 3rd floor living space.

I'll report.

Teardown Complete: door shutters, stone, french doors, small panes

2012-01-21T13:30:00.003-05:00

I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to Susan!

It's by Rutledge Alcock Architects, Decatur, Georgia. It's all done. I like it. The old house had looked sick for a long time, probably an estate issue. It was on .2072 acres, built in 1920 with 2,264 square feet.

The door shutters and lantern are the finishing touches for the new one.

It's on one of Atlanta's great streets, half a block from "Dean Rusk's House."

The new house has a smaller profile than the original. How often does THAT happen in a teardown?

The old house was taller, amazing.

The new one has a watchtower. Everybody wants a watchtower.

Nothing wrong with the old one's style or proportions though, nice little porch too. They still build them like this as well they should.

It was a goner in this neighborhood even in this economy.

Off we go.

The new one gets its 5000 square feet by going deep on the lot. The slope allows light into the terrace level.

The windows fascinated me most, the small panes, the different sizes.

These windows will admit wonderful northern light and flood the narrow house through and through

I wrote ''Window pleasures, window design patterns" about them.

I liked it just fine in its white wrapping, the black checkerboard of window panes.

The woody French doors intrigued me too, a balcony maybe?

I was surprised when the stone went up. There aren't any neighborhood houses with full stone facades. But many have stone detailing.

I was a bit wary. But I hadn't "read the last page of the book." It didn't come together in my head.

But now I get it.

Fine work I think.

It's unique; it makes a statement; it doesn't look brand new in style or finish.

It makes it neighbors look good.

Congratulations.

Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Heather's House Portraits of Cabbagetown

2012-01-19T09:17:00.005-05:00

You should consider commissioning Heather to do a house you love.

Full disclosure #1: Heather McPherson is Sam's daughter. Sam McPherson is my friend, my daughter's too. Katherine and I are especially devoted to Sam as only music students can be devoted to a favorite teacher.

So of course I went to Heather's first solo show at Get This Gallery last Saturday. I've followed Heather and enjoyed her work for a couple of years. If you are an in-town architecture tourist, you've probably seen her work. She's getting somewhere.

Here's Heather, coat on her arm next to my tall son, getting a lot of attention at her opening.

Full disclosure #2: I was and I am touched by her house portraits, plywood cut to shape, drawn and painted. The houses are all in Cabbagetown.

But they are familiar to anyone from a Southern mill-town, including High Point where I grew up.

Full disclosure #3: I am impossibly sentimental. Heather's houses made me remember.

My mom preferred the clothesline even after she got a dryer.

This summer I searched for my grandfather's house in High Point. I couldn't find it. It may be gone and the neighborhood isn't so hot now.

If Heather could have painted it's portrait, maybe his great great grands could know him a bit better.

Cabbagetown is a going concern, a real community in a house museum.

Folks put their yard waste on the curb every week.

This end of the house has some stories to tell.

You can do color in Cabbagetown.

Heather shows them as they are today, modern living in a century old setting.

Not all evolution is elevating.

It's uncanny to see them this way. The real houses are shoulder to shoulder with their neighbors. Cut out and separated, these could be anywhere in the rural south.

But this is how they look. Heather's paintings ring true to me.

Full Disclosure #4: You should consider commissioning Heather to do a house you love before it's gone. Architect: This would be an extraordinary gift for your clients.

Contact Lloyd Benjamin at Get This This Gallery. See Heather's work there on 11th Street across the from Six Feet Under.

Seven Cotton Docks Doors on the BeltLine

2012-01-15T11:16:00.005-05:00

It's a good look: an old warehouse with fancy doors.

The Virginia Cotton Docks are on Atlanta's BeltLine in the Old Fourth Ward. The loading docks served a railroad siding of the BeltLine.

I understand it was a warehouse for the huge Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill about a mile south. That's about all I know.

The Old Fourth Ward is popular these days in part because of spaces like this and the smallish mill houses in the neighborhood. It's late to the gentrification party.

Sometime, somebody converted it to work / live / gallery / gym / warehouse / who knows what lofts.

The conversion included fancy doors, every one unique.

These face the BeltLine proper between Highland Avenue and Irwin Street at the east dead end of John Wesley Dobbs. (Map)

They are hard to see unless you are on the BeltLine.

That would be tough today because BeltLine construction is making a big mess.

But you can see them from the Kevin Rathbun Steak parking lot.

I took these pictures from the back patio of square feet studio.

The door may be open by the mystery abides.

This used to be a gym for aerial silk dancing but I think they moved to Delalb Avenue.

Just inside the door was a balcony with a commanding view of the gym with silk hanging everywhere. Would you have guessed?

I'm partial this this one.

The transom, glass doors, lanterns, urns, trees make it a total package.

The dock itself is a giant covered porch. It should be a prime people watching spot as the Beltline progresses.

There are a bunch more doors at the docks.

This was the BeltLine before, less than a year ago.

This was the dock-of-the-7 doors before.

The green-on-pink door in festive dress was a good place to hang.

This the the BeltLine construction mess today. The 7 doors on the right, Kevin Rathbun Steak, square feet studio building on the left.

See: "Virginia Cotton Docks - Sampson Street, Atlanta" for more.

Teardown Complete: white brick, triple columns, nice work.

2012-01-11T13:08:00.002-05:00

Update: Saturday, 2012-01-14
Looking for pictures from the Southeast ICAA event:
"The Architecture of Leila Ross Wilburn ~ Atlanta's First Woman Architect" ~
A Lecture with Randall Zaic and home tour? Click here.

Back to regularly blog post:

This one is done and it's pretty darn good. Congratulations to Phillip Pettis at Design Create Live.

It's for sale, here is the ad.

This street of big-lot, big-ranchers has been teardown central in my neighborhood.

By big-lot I mean half acre or so which is estate size around here. By big rancher I mean, well you know what I mean.

It's a 2-block street built out in a style we don't like so much any more.

Super location, best public schools, big lots, out of style houses, housing crunch: Doom.

The big-time Lenox Park re-do's started with architect Barry Doss (R.I.P.) in the late 80's. When I met Barry he told me he had a thing about ranchers, he hated them. He didn't tear them down, he reinvented them. Barry did extraordinary work, we miss him.

There's been a surge over the last several years. They are all teardowns now, work by Harrison Design Associates, William T. Baker, and others, high quality, high style, high square footage. There is a Frank G. Neely Design Associates house going up nearby, work by Brad Heppner, Spitzmiller & Norris, Joel Kelly, and David Folwer too. There are several by Ivey and Crook nearby. The Dwoskin House by Philip Shutze is 2 blocks away. Good place for surge.

But I really like this one. It's on the smallest lot. It was a 1966 infill on a quarter acre, almost 1,900 square feet.

It's narrow and deep, about a half lot.

Garage on the front. It wasn't a showoff. It gave the feeling or privacy.

It was deep and "in the woods." The neighbor had its top popped in another decade.

It was here one day and gone the next.

Mr. Pettis got it done in hurry, mostly behind this fence. Some call this style "4 and a door."

When I saw the brick, I got a house crush.

I met Phillip Pettis on a drive-by. He designed it. He said I had to see the triple columns.

The sod arrived before the columns but it was looking good.

And before I knew it the columns arrived.

Here you go. It's for sale, here is the ad.

The next teardown is already torn down. It was the "Faux Chateau."

I'll report.

Enjoying Space with gloATL at ACAC

2012-01-08T16:43:00.002-05:00

Lauri Stallings hates wasted space. Me too.

Lauri is "Dancemaker" for gloATL, the Atlanta dance troop that rarely dances on stage.

They dance spaces, they dance parks, MARTA Stations, they dance buildings. They dance in front, behind, and in the audience. Not everybody likes their dancing that way. But I do.

You never quite know what's going on.

You might turn to see jump-suited dancers, Virginia Coleman and Nicole Johnson, sashay by. Where are they going?

Inside the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

Here are a few pictures from Friday nights' performance of "Physical Suite 2 on a Theme of Non-Fiction" by gloATL at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (ACAC).

I can't explain the title but let me summarize: Four dancers explore the big rooms at ACAC for about an hour. There was a Physical Suite 1 #1 on October 6 when it was warmer and sunnier.

It's between exhibitions at ACAC, the space is mostly empty right now. ACAC's next opening is Fri, Jan 13, 7-10pm: Day Job: Georgia, and 100,000 Cubicle Hours.

On with the show:

Before the show, dancers may appear anywhere. They stand silently.

The crowd mills around not knowing quite what to make of them.

There is a Buckingham Palace Guard effect. Should you ignore them; talk to them, make them laugh?

The action may start with a blur right beside you.

You may be in the right spot or not. If you stay in one place, the right spot will eventually come to you.

I pay attention to Lauri, but even she can't take it all in. She appears at "the box" from time to time to change the music or change the silence. How much is planned, how much improvised?

One of the tunes was "Motoc" from Loscil's album Plume. Listening helps me recall the performance. But it wasn't all ambient, far from it.

Some dancers go up. You don't expect up. But Lauri hates to waste space.

Early on the crowd doesn't knows quite where to be. By the end, we still don't know.

After a while, you begin to enjoy the ride.

Standing still in the shadows is dancing.

There are solos, duets, trios...

... and quartets.

ACAC has angles, niches, and shadows galore.

Sometimes you aren't in the right place.

ACAC's funky window is an outdoor stage for an indoor audience.

I followed outside.

The audience can go where they want. But the instinctual hierarchy between performer and audience keeps most of us still.

Nicole.

The crowd gets in the grove but still doesn't know where to look next. The comfort of loved ones nearby takes some of the edge off.

The freedom to move is a delight for children and for me.

The audience becomes part of the show but wary about joining in.

The children (beginning of this video) know what to do.

The crowd gets into the chase.

At times it's like the Ministry of Silly Walks.

At the end we meet the performers.

Bravo.

They painted the yellow brick blue, oh my.

2012-01-04T17:33:00.006-05:00

It had yellow brick. Not painted yellow, but yellow-yellow.

It's a Morningside pop-top, a 1959'er on .1336 acre with 1,259 square feet. A mid-century traditional? The quadruple window, the textured brick with deeply cut mortar, and red door gave it a non-trad edge.

It's not what they want today. But I always liked it. It was modest, livable for non jet-setters.

It's a fantastic location with a level walk to Alons and Doc Chey's and that makes of for a lot of square footage.

Before the housing crunch, they'd have torn it down. There are 3 fine teardowns across the street.

So they are popping the top, adding about 1,000 square feet, nothing McMansion about it. They didn't have to dig a basement, raise the first floor, or add a 2-car front facing garage.

This passes my grandma test: Would you send your grandmother out the get the mail?

They had a decision to make.

I think they chose well. When the neighbors get their pops topped, maybe in can go yellow again.

For now, it has a soft touch. You can see the crisp mortar line shadows. Those 4 windows still look cool.

Good work.

Paul Knight - J. Neel Reid Prize Winner, 2007

2012-01-01T11:53:00.002-05:00

Paul Knight won the J. Neel Reid Prize for 2007. Read more about the prize and the winners here. Paul tweets as @PaulLKnight. He's the 2nd winner to tweet; @clayrokicki was first.

Paul's prize project was "The Legacy of Reid and Shutze - Bringing Rome to Atlanta..." Paul visited Rome, Tivoli, and California, sketching, photographing, and making measured drawings of the very same places visited by Reid and Shutze decades ago.

Neel Reid at Villa Albani 1907 (from J. Neel Reid, Architect by William R. Mitchell. Jr.) and Paul Knight at Villa Borghese 2007.

I met with Paul on December 29, 2011 at his "penthouse" desk atop Historical Concepts' Glenwood Park Office.

It's hard to believe that whole buildings come from these little desks. Of course there are some big tables too. Paul is an Intern Architect at HC, a few thousand hours and 7 exams from becoming a registered architect.

Paul finds Architecture, Finally
Paul was raised in Cornelia Georgia, about 20 miles southeast of Helen. He went to Habersham Central where he considered studying music before settling on astrophysics at Georgia Tech. Tech has a way of challenging expectations so Paul switched to Mechanical Engineering. That wasn't clicking either.

Tech is not a lovable place when things aren't clicking. Thank goodness for hall-mate Jessi Pierce (now at Historical Concepts) who suggested architecture.

That must have worked. After 9 1/2 years at Tech, cross enrollment at SCAD, and summer internships galore, Paul earned a Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, and Master of Regional and City Planning.

Paul Acquires a Taste for the Classicism and Wins a Shutze Award.
Paul took a studio at Tech, "Traditional Design Workshop," sponsored by Historical Concepts. Jonathan LaCrosse, the Neel Reid Prize winner in 2005 and designer at D. Stanley Dixon Architect taught the class. It worked.

Paul's rendering for the class won him the Shutze Emerging Classicist Award for 2010. Here is a bit of it.

Detail of Georgia Tech's old physics building.

Paul pulled it out of a portfolio to show me.

Paul Visits Italy and California for the Neel Reid Prize
Here are a few of Paul's sketches and duotone renderings:

Above: Villa Corsini on the left, Atlanta's Swan House on the right.

Above: There are epics of design, practice, and history in every baluster.

Fragment embedded in the wall at the American Academy.

Villa Medici

Paul Visits California for the Prize?
Paul postponed his trip to Italy and saved enough to visit California and was able to extend his study.

Paul holds the record for longest Reid Prize title, and there is a reason.

Shutze and Green took different lessons from Italy.

Paul went to California to see for himself.

Shutze and Reid applied their experience to a classical style, the Green's to Arts and Crafts. Here is their Gamble House.

Thanks to Paul for showing me around.

Remember: Paul tweets @PaulLKnight. His website is PaulLKnight.com. He works at Historical Concepts.

Wow Renovation to Philip Shutze's Academy of Medicine

2011-12-26T16:45:00.013-05:00

Georgia Tech has bought (or were gifted, I'm not sure how it worked) and renovated the Historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech and offers it as an event facility. That is a very fine thing for architecture tourists and for everyone else.

"The new contract clearly stated each architects responsibilities. (R. Kennon) Perry maintained his position as principal architect in charge of working drawings and supervision, (Phillip Trammell) Shutze would design the building." Quote from American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze by Elizabeth Meredith Dowling

In 1968 all I knew is that it was a classy building with a front yard on West Peachtree. I lived across the street from the Academy of Medicine (1941) my senior year at Tech. I saw it every single day. I hadn't the slightest idea what they did in there or what it looked like inside.

I was fortunate to attend the grand re-opening on December 15, 2011 and took a few pictures.

This is a per-renovation picture.

Event planning staff and volunteers from Tech showed us around.

Eye's up.

Eyes up again and again.

"In 1980 the entire building was renovated...but Shutze...was not consulted...the sparkling clarity of the original white coloration...is no longer in evidence...." Quote from American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze by Elizabeth Meredith Dowling

I think the "sparkling clarity" is back. Don't you? Who managed the restoration? I hope to find out.

The clerestory windows from outside. "...square tower containing coffered semicircular skylights."

I don't know my terms. Aren't these Acroteria?

The entrance hall / foyer / rotunda is uncanny. It feels colossal yet cozy, grand but comfortable, elaborate but reserved. To me a great place can impress without making me feel small.

A little panorama from the rotunda. Eyes up yet again.

The auditorium is to the east, nice place for a wedding.

Columns in antis frame the stage.

From the stage looking towards the rotunda.

Detail of the mirrored sconces and wallpaper in the auditorium. Do you suppose Shutze designed these?

I'm looking across the rotunda towards the north wing and north entrance. There is a library down there, a good place for the bridesmaids to hang out, also a parlor for the bride.

The north entrance from the outside. It rocks.

I'm standing in the library, looking across the hall into the parlor.

Panorama of the library with its fine furnishings. Not a spec of dust.

The stair is in the north wing too. It delighted every glance.

It's just a few steps from the rotunda yet seems part of an immense space.

It's u-shaped with curves galore.

Downstairs is a bit more modest with meeting rooms. Ample space for the groom's party and more. Look in the mirror.

Crawford Long keeps watch down there.

The south wing is a large hall, suitable for the wedding reception and dance. It has this bodacious highly-modeled painting. My other pictures didn't come out very well.

Do you recognize the artist? We don't know.

How about a few outside pictures.

The portico overlooks the only lawn on West Peachtree.

Severe detailing.

Right now you can see the Cavalia tent framed by Midtown highrises.

The north side has a sunken patio for the reception spillover.

It's enclosed with a view of the midtown skyline.

The north entrance again, the parlor is on the right, the library on the left.

The entrance to the rusticated terrace level has plenty of charm.

The auditorium bumps out of the east facade.

The back door with the transom would enter the stage.

Stairs and a ramp lead to the sunken patio.

Now that I've convinced you, I hope you'll invite me to the wedding.

Thanks to Anne Minty and Shawn Stinson, event coordinators for the Historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech. They are the ones to call.

Merry Christmas 2 - The BBQ from Home & Cheerwine

2011-12-23T21:32:00.001-05:00

We architecture tourists are neither snobs nor purists when it comes to BBQ. We don't even care how you spell it.

But around Christmas time a whiff of Kepley's Bar-B-Q from High Point brings back memories we don't even have words for.

We are long gone from High Point and we don't get through there much anymore. So we've taken to having it shipped.

And it's so easy.

Our batch arrived today and made our place look and smell better.

This year it's 5 pounds BBQ, 2 quarts slaw, 6 dozen hush puppies, and one bottle of sauce.

It's pretty simple:

Barbecue: Warm at 200 degrees, stir barbecue from bottom to moisten. Heat 15-20 minutes. DO NOT HEAT IN ALUMINUM CONTAINERS (due to vinegar base sauce).

Some folks are fond of Cheerwine with their BBQ, It's a bit more available than it used to be. You can click here to find Cheerwine in your neighborhood.

Last year we sent our beverage committee to David's Produce 3561 Lavista Road Decatur, GA 30033. It's a wonderful place.

You needn't be nervous about ordering from Kepleys. Just call 336-884-1021. They know exactly what to do.

You might even talk with owner, Bob Burleson (on the right) who was kind enough to have his picture taken with me.

Merry BBQ Christmas to you and all your loved ones.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

Faux Chateau is No Mo and I'm sad.

2011-12-20T17:48:00.004-05:00

It was a big 1952 brick rancher on a half acre. I don't exactly when, before 1990 for sure. I don't know by whom, but they turned it into a lovable modern - a POMO - and gave it a nickname: "The Faux Chateau" during construction.

Inside it was breathtaking, spacious, and fun. It was a gallery; the owners were collectors.

It wasn't a 1952 rancher anymore.

Now it's an $800K tear-down.

I saw it for the first time on a Morningside - Lenox Park Tour of Homes in the late 80's I think, soon after the conversion.

They haven't yet leveled the garage, but they will.

I saw it again last year when it was for sale. It was perfect both times.

But at 2,719 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths, it was no longer "in" in this neighborhood.

Here is was with it's rancher neighbors.

The rancher next door is now a mansion.

That's what you do these days.

John Willis Custom Homes' sign is in the yard and and they do fine work.

But I'm feeling sad.

Merry Christmas - How We Decorate the Tree

2011-12-17T11:10:00.003-05:00

This years tree up; last year's tree down. Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Every year, the perfect tree, an unbroken record at our house and at your house too.

Taking the tree down is a bit sad. This is last years perfect tree.

Merry Christmas.

Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Philip Shutze's roof-top picnic grounds has a faulty tower.

2011-12-14T21:56:00.002-05:00

Architecture Tourists like you and me take advantage of every opportunity.

I had to go to my bone doc to see this. Looking north from the 19th floor of the Emory Midtown Hospital, I could see the Emily Winship Woodruff Maternity Center at Crawford Long Hospital by Philip Trammell Shutze et al 1945.

Now that you know it's there, keep your eye out for the "temple on the roof" and the two flat-top towers.

It's mostly hidden but you can spot the roof from many places in Midtown.

The view is pretty good from the top floor of the parking deck.

Architecture Tourists always park on the top floor, right?

It's nice to see details 9 stories up.

Here is the view through the window glare.

In 1945, I don't think the architects intended for anyone to see this view.

There are picnic tables up there.

I've been there. I lost my work ID near the hospital and someone turned it in. Hospital Security was on the top floor so that's were I went to pick it up.

I was up there before they built the 19 story building. There were rocking chairs and a truly extraordinary view south towards downtown Atlanta.

The west tower has Flemish bond all the way up. I admire the designers and the masons. The crisp corners make a difference to the eye from miles away.

I like the idea that these decorative towers, had a practical purpose. I don't know the purpose - probably heating / cooling / ventilation - but I can imagine the conversations between designers, engineers, and budgeteers.

What is the story with the faulty east tower?

I hope they have their top people working on it.

Actually it's just a reflection. Thanks to "Anonymous" for the tip. I looked like hole to me so I returned for another picture.

Let's review: Emory Midtown Hospital, formerly Crawford Long, the best architecture views in town, for a hospital. I'll also award a prize to Atlanta Medical Center's maternity floor for the best view of Atlanta's downtown.

View to the northwest and Georgia Tech.

Look east from the parking lot. The awesome W. W. Orr Doctors' Building (1930) and the hospital Lobby frame some of the last bits of the old commercial charm on Peachtree.

The Art Deco Orr Building is one of my very favorite Atlanta Buildings. It's so elegant, it rewards every time.

4 Paintings by Karen Cleveland

2011-12-11T13:12:00.001-05:00

It's a week later now and I'm still thinking about them.

When I walked in, 5 works immediately caught my eye. Four were by Karen Cleveland. She was showing with many others in "Nick O' Time" at Kibbee Gallery for the December Ponce Crush.

The colors and "cave art" motif first caught my eye.

But it's the vitality that I enjoyed most. Karen's animals seemed alive, ready to frolic, ready to bolt. They seemed to know I was there.

We are happy to know Karen a little. Animals are just one part of her work. You can see these at Kibbee Gallery until December 30, 2011.

Say hello to Karen shown here at Young Blood Gallery last January.

Kibbee Gallery that night. Karen's deer is to the left of the left window.

Jane's rental to the Queen from the Telephone Factory roof

2011-12-10T11:00:00.004-05:00

I go to events so I can enjoy the buildings. I usually enjoy the events too. That's the case with my 3rd Telephone Factory Art Show and Sale. I'll see you there next December, OK?

Artist Emily D. Cameron was showing.

We sent a full 4-person Architecture Tourist Loft Expedition team: JoAnn, Michelle, David and me.

The artists were friendly: Barbara Rush, D. Lammie Hanson, me, and Lanette Gallagher.

It wasn't long before we found our way to the roof top deck for a video panorama. Watch carefully beginning at 0:30.

To get your bearings. We start facing west toward downtown, we look down at the Beltline, then Midtown, Buckhead, toward Virginia Highlands, Jane's place is due east, to the south is the Beltline.

The top floor was Jane Fonda's Atlanta Home. It's right next door to the Telephone Factory, a stones throw from the Carter Center. Jane has moved out. You'll probably enjoy "Queen Latifah rents Jane Fonda's Atlanta condo."

We bought some small works by artist Marc Villanueva (left).

I fell in love with grandma's pink oven doors, they flatter my gray hair don't you think?

Artist Keith Rosemond II.

By Artist Stacie Uhinck Rose.

Artist Russell Grantham (right) does flags, and everything else.

Lost and found?

I met pottery artist Lori Buff (left) at the factory 2 years ago. This time JoAnn and I fell in love with and bought Lori's little blue vase decorated somehow with horse hair. but no horses were harmed. You can't see the vase until Christmas. Look for Lori next year in 102, a wonderful corner loft.

I met artist/photographer Susan Poindexter (right) at a past tour. She prints architecture photos on fabric. This is an Architecture Tourist "2-fer". She made a sale while we watched.

Adam Wellborn who can do do everything posed with a work in progress. It approached photo-realism even at this stage.

Artist, animator Alexander Wright when combined with Jennie Juechter is known as "Urban Attic.

JoAnn loved the kid at the fence tryptic metamorphosis.

And what do you know: I finally met Isadora!

Artist / Photographer Isadora Pennington did "Isadora's Doodles," legal, building-sized graffiti in the Old 4th Ward.

Isadora's Doodles as backdrop for engagement pictures.

I love the old cafeteria in the factory. It's on the SW corner with huge windows and curvy roof. It's a great room, I think.

These by Jeffrey Wilcox Paclipan looked like stained glass windows.

I met Demone Phelps 2 years ago at the factory. This is just a bit of what he showed.

Mohammed el Ganouby did color, color, color.

These three by Nathan Bailey seemed to emit their own light.

I met Curt Osmundsen 2 years ago at the factory.

That's not all but we needed a little rest.

Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 2

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

It should be better than than "a place you just want to get through."

This is an important neighborhood intersection with a traffic light. The renovation of the house on the NE corner will make a difference. (Continued from "Part 1.)

This place has been a constant in my life for more than 30 years. I feel sentimental about it though my brain mostly tunes it out.

Here is the corner house scorecard. Each is a terminal vista.

Here is the SE house from the western approach facing east in the right turn lane.

A close look reveals some seriously good detailing. It's a busy place. I understand the excess bushiness.

If we're going straight or turning left, we see the poptop on the NE corner.

It's looking blue.

From the eastern approach on Morningside (facing west) we see the belle of the ball, Anshi S'fard. It's on the SW corner. This was converted from residential in the late 40's / ealy 50's. It "honors" the corner by being kitty-cornered, facing smack into the center of the intersection. That makes a difference.

What columns, what a porch, it's sturdy and solid; it faces out; it welcomes in.

The northern approach looking south on Highland also features Anshi S'fard and the side of the next house.

Pretty good even in the rain.

This is the southern approach on Highland looking north. The NW terminal vista is a line of 1-story jobs.

This is such a familiar sight, not a landmark view but interesting. With hips, gables, bricks, chimneys, stucco, and paneling there is genuine variety, far more than we'd find in similar houses built lately. It keeps me interested.

I think the corner house is multi-family. The hedge, always neatly trimmed, offers a bit of privacy.

This is very early in the story. I'll get back to you.

Let's have another look at Anshi S'fard before we go.

Very Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 1

2011-12-07T14:11:00.004-05:00

It's at the corner of Morningside and North Highland, one of our busiest crossroads. The curves and hills make this house a terminal vista. This one will have more visual impact than other renovations in the neighborhood. Could it be too good?

They seem to be raising the roof rather than tearing it down.

On Tuesday guys in HASMAT suits started on the siding, working in the rain.

I wonder if they'll keep the porch a porch. I always liked it.

This is the approach on Morningside. You can't miss it. It's not a landmark building; it was never meant to be fabulous, more a work-a-day family home.

The 2 Morningside/Rockspring intersections are a bit more upscale; so is the Rocksprings/North Highland intersection.

This was a quadraplex. That tax records imply that it was converted from single family, who knows when?

It was always well kept. The generous front porch seemed cozy even on this intersection.

I always wonder how they fit four apartments in there. The skylights must light a livable upstairs.

Must be a unit downstairs too.

I wonder what it will look like. I wonder if it will remain multi-unit or go single-family.

I hope it's good.

In Part 2 I'll show you the intersection.

Panorama from the roof with Ralph and Ruth

2011-12-05T09:34:00.004-05:00

Don't say I didn't tell you. There is more next week. Mark you calendars for next year.

We did the The Stacks Lofts + Artists Tour at the Fulton Bag Mill; we did the Ponce Crush Gallery Art Stroll; we did the Telephone Factory Art Show & Sale. We had time for some football too.

Check my Flickr page for the pictures. I only have have time to show you my first panorama.

One of the delights of the Bag Mill was meeting and touring with Ruth and Ralph. They live in a loft in Decatur and therefore, are cooler than you or me. Here they are on the rooftop deck of Building H looking towards Stone Mountain.

But I want to show you the panorama from building E. It starts looking west towards the Georgia State Capital. There is a bit of glare from the late afternoon sun.

Here you go. It' more fun if you watch it full screen.

Here are a few teasers:

From The Stacks.

From the Ponce Crush.

From the Telephone Factory.

The big cats were deco/industrial friendly at the factory.

More later.

Update: Your guide: 2 Loft Tours, 3 Home Tours, +art in 10 days beginning Dec 2

2011-12-02T11:36:00.001-05:00

Honestly, this is almost too much goodness to handle. I know you've got Christmas shopping, guests coming into town, and the dog at your homework.

Just think happy thoughts about the Fulton Bag Mill towers.

It's hog heaven for Architecture Tourists in Atlanta.

Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes and Decatur tour on Facebook
$20
7 homes + 4 Points of interest and market
Dec 2, Fri, 5:30p-9:30p
Dec 3, Sat, 5:30-9:30p
Terry's tip: Take the shuttle. Don't miss the Decatur First United Methodist Church Chapel and the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel at Agnes Scott College: two takes on charming small chapels.

The Stacks Lofts + Artists Tour at the Fulton Bag Mill and Stacks Tour on Facebook
$5 Cash
14 lofts + 25 Artists
Dec 2, Fri, 6p - 10p
Dec 3, Sat, 2p - 8p
Terry's tip: The Bag Mill complex takes my breath away. R.S.V.P to stackshistorytour@gmail.com for free guided historical tours at 12:30 or 2:00 Saturday. Awesome

Telephone Factory Art Show & Sale! and Telephone Factory Tour on Facebook and @TFactoryArtShow on Twitter
Free
16 lofts 37 Artists
Dec 3, Sat, 11:00a-7:00p.
Dec 4, Sun, 1:00p-6:00p
Terry's tip: The definition of "hard" lofts, each one is surprise. Lot's of art for sale for Christmas including ceramics and jewelry. Shout out to clay artist Lori Bluff, who'll be in 102 one of the corner lofts with awesome light.

Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes and Va-Hi tour of homes on Facebook
$25.00 Advance. $30 Weekend of the Tour
8 Homes
Dec 10, Sat,10a-4p
Dec 11, Sun, 12p4p
Terry's tips: One of Atlanta's great neighborhoods. Tour the houses, have dinner, and party. How about George's?

Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes and music and a market and...
$15 Advance. $20 Weekend of the Tour
8 Homes, St Paul UMC, and the L.P. Grant Mansion
Dec 10, Sat, 6p-10p
Dec 11, Sun, 6p-10p
Terry's tips: You've probably been to the zoo and always wondered about the houses, decked out for Christmas to boot. I adore the unfinished Grant Mansion and St. Paul Methodist across the street.

If you don't mind, I'll tease a bit:

You might see something like this inside a Stacks loft.

They don't build mansions today any prettier than this 100 year old factory building.

The Telephone Factory was built better than it needed to be.

Every loft is different.

What windows.

What coffee cups.

Grant Park Tour HQ is St. Paul which opened this building in 1907.

You need to start training immediately.

It'll hurt my feelings if you see me out and don't say hello.

P.S. Did you know there is a pool at The Stacks?

It preserved more of its original "1914" appearance

2011-11-29T23:37:00.005-05:00

1148 North Highland is for sale. Even with 11 foot ceilings, it's probably a goner. I'm feeling a bit sad and sentimental about it.

This house has probably been deteriorating for most of the time I've lived here.

And that has left it in a certain condition, don't you think?

I've driven past 100's, maybe a thousand times. I never notice it yet always notice it.

The neglect preserved more of its original "1914" appearance than others in the neighborhood, no add-ons, no preservation, no landscaping, no TLC.

The Bradford Pear smothers it the summer. Even if you are looking, you can't really see it.

Very handsome I think.

You can see the two front doors. It was split in half to make duplex. Who knows when.

It's impressive but the tarp isn't a good sign.

My kind of trucks.

I didn't notice the chimney until I processed the pictures on my computer.

In Virginia Highlands and most of Morningside "extra large lot" means .26 acres.

Indeed a quarter acre gives you some breathing room.

So I'm feeling a bit sad and sentimental about this one.

It's iconic. You can find these - even in this condition - almost anywhere. It's so familiar.

If they tear it down, I guess there are plenty more bungalows.

If they fix it up all authentic and everything, will it really be as authentic as it is today?

If you are in the neighborhood, have a look. And make sure to drive up Highland Terrace.

Treat yourself one of the neighborhoods great views, almost a zen view. It works for me every time.

Thanks to Patti Hinkle at Pretty Old Houses for encouraging me to have a look.

Old school dancing in Grant Park

2011-11-26T10:37:00.005-05:00

Architecture tourists go to events just so we can see the buildings. On November 11 it was the Lucky Penny Spectacular at the old Grant Park School, which is now repurposed and home to The Arts Exchange.

It was an evening of art, dance, and good cheer at an old school you've never seen. When you give artists, musicians, and dancers half a chance, they'll make some magic.

They'll take this workaday school doorway...

and make some magic with it...

...and draw a crowd by turning it into a dance stage.

The school's auditorium / gym is now the Paul Robeson Theater.

Lucky Penny really knows how to throw a dance whether on a sidewalk, in a doorway or theater.

Thanks to the Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday.

They tore it down yesterday, a "1930" on Amsterdam - Video.

2011-11-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

This is how far they got in half a day, yesterday, Monday. The demo guy said they'd be done by Tuesday evening.

I got a few "before" pictures. I spotted it just in time as they were removing the asbestos and other hazardous materials last week.

The demo guy said it was well built and they could tell. The back part was added later and not so well built.

It was quite appealing but the neighborhood demographics have left it in the dust.

I'll bet the aluminum siding on the gables isn't original.

The prominent chimney needed no apology. See Kyle's post on chimneys; we are all chimney lovers.

If you aren't familiar with in-town Atlanta, Amsterdam divides Morningside to the north from Virginia-Highlands to the south. Both are as desirable as it gets within the city limits. This house in in Morningside side of the street.

Lots (teardowns) start about about $300K for 1/5 acre or so. In fact there is another teardown two houses from this one.

Here are a few crunches and a look west and east. As said, if you aren't from around here, you wouldn't guess the desirability.

A little more crunch.

I'll watch and report back to you.

What is and who's at the Goat Farm?

2011-11-19T19:13:00.004-05:00

Atlanta's Goat Farm is 11 acres of total awesomeness - historic, industrial, re-purposed awesomeness. If you want to find out what's happening there, start with Facebook.

I'm going to show you a bit of what's inside thanks to MOCA's ArtMerge on November 10 and thanks to Corrina Sephora Mensoff our host for the evening. They are totally awesome. I also want to mention The Creatives Project which supports some of the Goat Farm artists in their "artist in studio" program. Its driving force, Neda Abghari demonstrates the awesome energy in Atlanta's art scene.

You don't need an occasion to visit the grounds. You can drive right on back there. It's OK. Go to Forsyth Fabrics and keep going south on Foster Street. The first street to the right is to the Howard School. The second street goes to the Goat Farm. Take a right and be impressed.

There is a pretty good chance you'll find some goats maybe some chickens. They are penned up so don't worry about getting butted or pecked. The artists probably won't butt or peck you either.

The Goat farm was at one time the E. Van Winkle Gin and Machine Works but not any more. If you like maps, diagrams, factories and history just click here. It's totally awesome.

We started our tour in the multipurpose Rodriguez Room. Inside "Flowing-as-Water" featured painting, sculpture, animation, and music by Corrina Mensoff, Matt Gilbert, Ana Balka.

Out in the yards: sculptures, Corrina's boats with wings.

gloAtl's studio takes up almost half of Goodson Yard.

We got to see them rehearsing.

The other half of Goodson Yard is a huge gallery space where TindelMichi (John Tindel and Michi Meko) were showing.

Many of the Goat Farm artists opened their studios for us. Corrina led the way.

Mmmm, artist studios are totally awesome. Ingrid Magnuson is gesturing.

Across the hall...

... photographer John Paul Floyd held court.

In another building we found artist Linda Mitchell who was part of "Lair" by SixFold Collective at the Abernathy Arts Center.

In the next building we found

fashion artist Tian Justman. She designs, she chooses fabric, she "patterns," cuts and sews at the Goat Farm.

Tain shares her building with actors, costume and set designers Marium Khalid and Phillip Justman. You need angel wings? This is the place.

The next building is huge.

Downstairs Mark Hopper did some bronze casting for us.

Hot, dirty, hard, noisy, awesome work.

Upstairs, more studios with graffiti'ed corridors.

Awesome.

This is Vanessa Williams.

Vanessa made her studio into a gallery of miniature works of folded and glued paper. The scale made me feel like a giant. This is a fish stair.

Ashley L. Schick is a printmaker (and a The Creatives Project artist) and assistant to Brian Dettmer, the guy who carves books. Awesome.

Ahley shares a studio with Hannah Perner Wilson ( a The Creatives Project artist) who does art/rocket science. Awesome.

Marci Starz and Brandon Sadler share a studio and both are part of a The Creatives Project. Brandon (red sweater) has work in the High Museum. I could see why.

I'd seen Marci Starz's work in local galleries; it's unforgettable.

Awesome.

We finished at Corrina Sephora Mensof's place. Among other things, she's a blacksmith.

Corrina shares her studio with the awesome Jane Garver. Jane did "Voice Box for Flux 2011, remember? This is where all the voice boxes roost.

This was the end of my tour. I hope you enjoyed it.

To clad Vuiton in Onyx call Michael Ra at Front Inc.

2011-11-18T00:45:00.003-05:00

Michael Ra's and Front Inc's specialty is skinning, skinning buildings that is.

Think of all the "starchitects" out there and all those crazy buildings. Somebody has to figure out the skin: How to engineer it, keep the water out, keep it from falling off in hurricanes and earthquakes, how to manufacture it, how to install it, how to maintain it, how to build it on budget on time.

You have to clean the windows and it's very dusty in the UAE.

What if the architect wants Onyx? Call Front Inc.

Lvmn Paradise Building in Osaka by Kengo Kuma + Associates. Photo from Flickr courtesy of Hiromitsu Morimoto.

Michael Ra visited the Georgia Tech College of Architecture this week.

He explained how they did the onyx: Take a sheet of Onyx; clad both sides in glass; slice the onyx in half so that you end of with 2 panels of onyx faced glass. Of course. Why didn't I think of that?

At least the onyx is flat. What if you need curves?

Or curved glass, or glass panels.

In any case you have to design it so it can be manufactured and installed.

You've got to test it. This is the glass "ceiling" for the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum in San Antonio.

I asked Michael how he came to be a skinner. He said that Illinois Institute of Technology is strong in the engineering aspect of architecture. He must have had a knack. One of his instructors hired him right out of school.

He seemed to enjoyed the challenge that resulted in drawings like these as much as he enjoyed finished project.

Isn't specialization limiting? Doesn't is stifle creativity? For Michael, it doesn't seem so. In fact I'm pretty sure that he loves what he's doing.

And if your clients include Richard Meier, Renzo Piano, Frank Ghery and a host of others around the world, how boring can it be?

I was most amused during the Q&A. Folks asked about his firm's "agenda" was it about sustainability, conservation, being green. Micheal said his firm was young and their agenda is "getting it built."

Thanks to Micheal Ra, to Georgia Tech, and to Assistant professor Tristan Al-Haddad and to Professor George Johnson, chair of the School of Architecture for making me feel at home.

My "Windows on Design" Expedition

2011-11-17T09:57:00.002-05:00

"Windows on Design" is a project by Atlanta's Design Collective. "It pairs one Showroom window with a Designer to create a one-of-a-kind window display."

I headed out with my trusty maps. I had no hope of capturing these displace with my camera, so I made it all about me. After all, there was prize.

On the west.

Verde Home featured Liquid Design Studios and it looked good enough to eat.

Jennifer Schwartz Gallery & Balance Design looked great in the rain.

Redefined Home Boutique & New Mood Design did a bed and a dress.

I headed east.

At Regalo Antiques, Taylor Galen Workroom with Charm Home Design pushed all the eclectic buttons.

At Robuck and Company, Mill and Forge showed a metal table with beautiful reclaimed wood.

Rebecca Keller built a studio / map room at Beau Holland.

Jenn Ryan Designs built a dining room inside Moattar.

Congratulations and thanks to all.

Thanks to Regalo Antiques for sending me this picture.

This renovation may not please all tastes

2011-11-15T12:17:00.001-05:00

It's the new Inkaholics on Piedmont at Cheshire Bridge. At Inkaholics you can get a drink, a tattoo, and a haircut.

It's an old bank on a very prominent place atop a hill. You know where.

Several banks then a few a real estate offices made a home there. The style was so familiar it rarely caught the eye. This screams "branch bank."

They painted the brick blue, the trim red and marbleized the columns. It still screams something but not "branch bank."

Now I can see it again.

I don't think they are entirely finished or entirely open. I'll report.

Architecture Tourist Project: Blogging Ponce de Leon, Atlanta's Church Street

2011-11-13T12:07:00.003-05:00

As far as I can tell there is no "Church Street" inside the Atlanta city limits. I hereby nominate Ponce de Leon between The Varsity and Decatur, bookended by All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Decatur.


I've visited and blogged All Saints Episcopal	but not Holy Trinity Episcopal.

Atlantans are fascinated with Ponce. It's got history, personality and a reputation for baseball, Sears, Mary Macs, Olmstead, Krispy Kreme, and sleaze.

I've set a goal to visit and document each place of worship on Ponce. It's a long term project. I think folks need to see these places. It's a natural project for architecture tourists. Perhaps you'd like to join me.

Ponce is home to some of our oldest congregations, church buildings by Atlanta's most prominent architects, stained glass, organs, and acoustics that match any in the area. Some of the church buildings are nearly 100 years old.

I'm making a map:

If you want to know more or help: Blogging Ponce de Leon Churches.

There is much more to see: Gold Pink Blue Beaux-Arts at Druid Hills Baptist.

5+1 Teardown Works in Progress

2011-11-11T10:33:00.001-05:00

Lenox Park getting sod.

Morningside

Morningside

Midtown

Morningside

Oakhurst

Virginia Highland. Poptop? Teardown? Reno? I caught this one just in time.

Teardown work in progress in Virginia Highland.

2011-11-09T17:07:00.003-05:00

(new: Pictures from the sold out Atlanta premier of Urbanized, a film by Gary Hustwit, third in his design trilogy with Helvetica and Objectified.)

This will be here soon in Virginia Highland. If you aren't familiar with the neighborhood, you might be shocked at how tiny the lot is: .193 acre.

It's very cute I think and in keeping. Dovecotes for the kiddies, stone details, lentils, segmental arches, a couple of curvy roof-lines - I like. Trulia lists it at $1,089,000. That's about 3x what the teardown cost.

It's by John Willis Homes. They are doing a bunch in the neighborhood right now, good work, not McMansioning. I met Mr. Willis at an open house a few weeks ago, lot's of energy and passion for good houses.

There was the "before."

They've kept the old garage. It sits a little crooked, not perpendicular to the street.

The "no garage door" look is what's most charming about the elevation. Around here a visible garage sticks out like a sore thumb. Our garages are out back, if we have one at all. They are pretty good for lawn mowers, not so good for modern cars.

This is what it looks like today.

Bravo to John Willis Homes.

Good Week

2011-11-06T11:13:00.002-05:00

Monday: trick or treat.

Tuesday: Architect Jeanne Gang at Georgia Tech

and warming up for flipper saves at Silverback Park

Wednesday: Art professor Michael Oliveri at Georgia Tech

and Brooke's going away party at Park Tavern

Thursday: a teardown getting some concrete

I don't think we'll miss the old house

Friday: We spotted an empty lot where this little house once stood in Peachtree Hills.

What we'll miss is an opportunity to live in a small house in a great place. This will probably be a 4,500 square foot $1M+ house. I'm sure it will be pretty and nice. It will move the neighborhood demographic up a notch.

On Saturday the Ponce Crush at Beep Beep Gallery.

at Kibbee Gallery

at Young Blood Gallery

Today there will be massive laughs, guffaws, and chortles, were celebrating Zella's birthday. Don't be fooled by her innocent expression or you may be ejecting iced tea though your nose.

Artistic + Good in Math / Jeanne Gang visits Georgia Tech

2011-11-03T21:15:00.004-04:00

How is one chosen to design an 82 story building with 1,900,000 square feet of floor space costing $475,000,000 in Chicago?

Aqua Tower Photo: Vincent Desjardins
Design architecture firm: Studio Gang Architects
Architect of record: Loewenberg & Associates

I planned to ask Jeanne myself when she spoke at Georgia Tech on Tuesday night.

This is Jeanne Gang doing Q&A after the lecture. (Jeanne = "Gee-Knee") She's principal & founder of Studio Gang in Chicago. She's a 2011 MacArthur Fellow.

Her firm collaborated on the design of the Aqua Tower. The media credits her.

The College of Architecture brings in international design talent to speak with design students who, like Jeanne, are artistic and good at math. I go to these when I can, I was good in math but...

Fish, Sticks, Birds and Bricks? What about world class skyscrapers?

These are easygoing affairs. Nobody dresses. You need to look like a student or a professor, recent haircut not required. These are at dinner time. For most Tech students it's about 2/3 of the way through a long day.

The "ready to pull a 2nd all-nighter" look is always fashionable in the architecture building.

Introductions.

This is the book cover for Reveal.

Jeanne Gang avoided personal credit for everything. She spoke softly with a warm smile. The passions were in there though, clearly in there. She has a powerful motor running inside.

In an early slide she answered a question nobody would ask about the composition of a female led firm. She said she liked the texture.

The delight of these lectures is the architect's own delight, the unexpected twists and turns.

In this case the issue was how to get a building permit for a brick lattice: a design, engineering, craft, bureaucratic, and political problem.

How do you build with several varieties of donated concrete? It's takes design and calculation.

How do you keep fish alive in Lincoln Park Zoo? How you do prevent birds from smashing into buildings in the Chicago flyway? How do you reverse the Chicago River. How do you revive Cicero?

These are the kind of problems architects attack these days.

Jeanne said that learning architecture is hard enough for artistic students who are good in math. But projects are more challenging than ever. Architects have to engage and excite people across the spectrum.

Finally the skyscraper: she answered my Aqua Tower question before I asked:

The developer wanted somebody who hadn't done a skyscraper, they wanted something different.

We'll have to go see for ourselves.

Just a few forehead slaps from her slides:

Skyscraper skeptics must deal with this argument.

During construction skyscraper climbers sent a picture from the top. Jeanne said they didn't know how they got up there, maybe they climbed up and over on a crane. I'm having bad dreams over this.

Ms. Gang emphasized unexpected vistas that thrill.

Unexpected (to me) diagonal views link people on different floors. You can't people-watch your own building in most skyscrapers.

Thanks to Jeanne Gang and the Georgia Tech College of Architecture. I was fortunate to be there; happy to have captured a few drops from flood

I made some notes.

I followed up on Bruce Mau Design, the firm that built the Studio Gang website. It led me to the "Incomplete Manifesto for Growth" which I'd heard of but otherwise had no clue. Epigrammatic fun.

9: Begin anywhere.
John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

21: Repeat yourself.
If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.

Porch and Pumpkins and Penguin

2011-11-01T10:00:00.004-04:00

Once you know it's Pacman, you know it's Pacman. I had to be told.

Creepy.

Super 6'2" creepy.

Dinosaurs, Abe, Maya Kiva, Professorial, Classical, Emily Amy, Kai Lin

2011-10-30T11:07:00.006-04:00

No dinosaurs were injured during our extended family outing to Fernbank on Sunday.

But some funny-bones were tickled.

What happened Monday? I don't remember. but Tuesday...

Architecture Tourist "The Next Generation" all play coed soccer on Tuesday nights at Silverback Park. Team Bottoms Up faced Team Tenacious D who had a real ringer: Abe.

The chicken played keeper. It wasn't pretty but it was funny.

Wednesday featured a double dip at the Georgia Tech College of Architecture. Georgia Tech offers many free lectures by international design talent sometimes on the very same day in the very same place at the very same time.

I encountered Maya Design unexpectedly. I was waiting for the professorial lecture and noticed students rushing upstairs to the Stubbins Design Studio. I followed and barged right in. I am, after all, looking a bit professorial these days.

The left goatee is Mickey McManus, president, the right goatee is founder Joe Bailey. They had a love-in, be-in, design-in, human factors-in in their own kiva.

Within minutes I had notes for a blog post on a subject I'd never considered. I offered to shine shows and clean toilets at Maya.

Then the professorial lecture: Georgia Tech had just named Dan Immergluck Professor of of City and Regional Planning and that is a big deal. For the occasion Professor Immergluck gave a lecture for all comers.

The lecture title came from Jean-Paul Sartre's grim play. What do academics have to say about housing trends? The room was full of students, practicing planners and developers who wanted to find out. They asked questions.

On Thursday something completely different:

The Southeast chapter of the Institute for Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) met at the ADAC showroom of Ainsworth Noah.

It was mostly a party in a beautiful showroom. We met for a few minutes. July Talley deftly introduced the ICAA to newcomers. By the way: the Shutze Awards submission deadline is November 28, 2011.

Friday was for opening receptions at Emily Amy Gallery and Kai Lin Art.

Emily Amy showed new work by Cecil Touchon. He does collages, many from billboard waste. I like this one a lot.

The black and yellow too.

Emily dug through the file of Cecil's smaller work.

I love hovering over the flat file.

Then to Kai Lin Art for the opening of SNAP.

Kai Lin Art just moved from Midtown to Buckhead, almost next door to the Roxy.

This is Yu-Kai Lin himself. He remembers my name, bless his heart.

Karen Divine.

The Dorn Brothers, Travis and Nate.

Rob Simmons.

Greg Noblin on the left.

Patrick Heagney.

Rob, Nate, Patrick and Travis were in that "artist reception" mood if you know what I mean.

By Patrick Heagney.

Busy week.

Here Tuesday gone Thursday, Teardown on Amsterdam

2011-10-27T16:49:00.000-04:00

This was Tuesday, October 25. This was a little house on Amsterdam, an "affordable" for this neighborhood.

There is no way to make this pretty.

It's got that bloodless condemned look.

They'd gotten the hazardous materials out, it's got gravel and the silt fence, the permit box and the signs.

There's no for sale sign. Maybe it's a custom house.

This block of Amsterdam is relatively busy, a cut though from Monroe and Piedmont Park. Quite a few homes have been redone over the years.

There are still many modest ones. They aren't what folks-who-are-able want these days.

Anyway, that was Tuesday.

Today, Wednesday, October 27 is another day.

I'm using my Trello Teardown Tracker to keep up with these.

It will take a while to see the finished product. I could use a little help. If you are interested let me know.

An interior designer by defense, interview with Bobby McAlpine

2011-10-25T09:34:00.003-04:00

I had to good fortune to visit a Bobby McAlpine house (McAlpine Tankersley Architecture) at the Beacham & Company, Realtors party last week night. I wrote a post about it " After Bobby's Big, Big Door and More at the Beacham Party"

That wasn't enough so I re-listened to the Bobby McAlpine interview by the Skirted Roundtable from August 2010. The Home Within Us was just out. Mr. Alpine and the Joni, Linda, and Megan totally rocked!!! You should listen.

Here are some quotes to whet your appetite.

11:30
(Do new clients have want a house like you've already done or do they want something new)
They sense something, I think, from me I hope...that I might be the soothsayer for them...I would hope always that no one would want me to repeat a thing...I'm much more interested in listening and reading people."

13:10
(I like your interiors do you consider yourself an interior designer or architect?)
"I'd prefer to be known as an architect...I am an interior designer by defense because my interiors just get wasted. If you want be recognized as an architect you have to have good interiors...because up until now it's the only mechanism (interiors) for publication and furthering you...you can't afford misses and losses. So I took it by the horns."

17:20
(buying and building own houses in Nashville)
"I'm a mover...I bought a modern house to live in in the interim...it's kind of fabulous. The architecture is like nothing I'd have anything to do with but to be in it is incredible."

24:00 (when design looses it way)
"Everything that becomes mature and becomes heritable is subtle ... it takes a real strong and smart appetite to try to develop what's going to last."

25:54 (what is "American" style)
"American is a dream sewn up in cotton, it's not silk or wool or stone or anything else. It's sewn in a common material that is provincial and it's lovely because it's so pure of heart. Maybe a little lacking of resource, maybe a little lacking of background, or credential, or bloodline or whatever. But there is something lovely about it ... it's loveliest architecture shows up through the naivety of it's natives."

33:35 (speaking about expensive steel windows)
"It's ironic ... humble is always the most expensive thing you can do."

40:50 (Choose great space or great decor/furnishings?)
"As an architect I would chose the space first ... really really right ... gorgeous ... poetry ... something heart-full (heartfelt?) to it ..."

"If I can't(get the right space) ... I would certainly decorate the #@!!% out of something that wasn't right..."

42:54 (do you have a favorite room?)
"No ... I love sequence; I love for things to unfold..."

43:00 (what is really, deeply important to me)
"The minute you crack open the container (meaning the house) I want you to be destroyed ... disheveled by the level of intimacy, what's being offered you has got to bring you to your knees. It's not to impress you; it is to tell you how badly wanted you are and how long we've been waiting for you."

47:40 (after visiting the Lutyens house on which he modeled a home, the one of the book cover)
"Lutyens ... mine is so much better."

In the big room.

182.5

Pretty Good Week: Old Music, Bobby, Lions, Squirrels, Meadows, Parade, Now Painting, Demolition, Occupy Atlanta

2011-10-22T11:26:00.002-04:00

After a Yeah Burger lunch with our old friend Jim Olson, JoAnn and I did some cruising to finish the week.

You have to look up to find the lions in bow ties at Trinity and Pryor. I don't think "bow tie" is the proper architectural term. Can you help me out on that?

We saw lions at The Westside Foundry too.

JoAnn loves the boulders in the Oakland Gate Meadow. The proposed "Capital Gateway Park" will run from here along Martin Luther King all the way to the capital. But we hope they don't tear down Daddy D'z BBQ in the process.

The meadow is right outside the gate.

The week started last Friday night with a eclectic Oktoberfest party at Melvin Gallery in the Virginia Cotton Docks. We met the awesome "Now Painter" Janssen Robinson who painted to the tune of our buds, the Muleskinner McQueen Trio. Little kids danced in person and cows danced on video. It was a fun for the whole family and a heck of a night in the Old 4th Ward.

I heard more old-time music on Saturday, I'm talking medieval French love songs from Asteria Musica at Agnes Scott College. I blogged it at "Asteria soundchecks Château de Germolles."

The new tenants moved into our rustic Morningside charmer.

We enjoyed some brick painting on Zimmer.

No week is complete for Architecture Tourists without some good old fashioned demolition. These are the remains of Building 6 at Emory's Briarcliff Campus. They tore down buildings 7 and 8 too. We could hear the crunching from our front porch. These will not be missed.

It was a particularly good Tuesday. Bloggers and many others celebrated at the Beacham & Company, Realtors® "Beacham Series” release party at a McAlpine-Tankersley house. Wahoo. I blogged it at "Bobby's Big, Big Door and More at the Beacham Party."

The recycling truck trashed our circle again. What are we going to do?

Gordon visited. This is one of his favorite houses in Atlanta. It's one of ours too. "It's ironic ... humble is always the most expensive thing you can do." - Bobby McAlpine

On Thrusday I visited Occupy Atlanta at Woodruff Park.

What do you know, the Georgia State Homecoming Parade came through. The band marched down right down Broad Street.

I love a parade.

Bobby's Big, Big Door and More at the Beacham Party

2011-10-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

I mean the Bobby McAlpine door (McAlpine Tankersley Architecture) at the Beacham & Company, REALTORS^® "Beacham Series” release party Tuesday night.

The Architecture Tourist Lutyens Lovers SIG thought the party was just for us. This is exactly what we like to do on Tuesday night.

Kyle Studivent, builder and blogger at "The well Composed Home," and I walked outside to have a look. It was just one of the smile-generators in the house. Makes moving a grand piano easier I'm sure but I think it's the wit.

Here is the whole composition.

It's a beauty you won't see in a real estate ad. This is the view from the parking court. For Kyle and me it was a piece of heaven.

The parking court was so good, I had to photograph the electric meter, you gotta have one, even in a McAlpine house.

Mmm, mmm, mmm. Those zigs and zags, cornices and gutters, lentils and shutters. Just yummy. Remember, this the service side of the house where the basketball goal is, trashcans too but I didn't see them.

Here is the driveway.

Nice driveway no? The house is right up there.

This is the front porch. But compared to the porch on my little house, this needs a fancy French name. I didn't realize these were shutters until I got up close. The front door is behind me. The great room is though those French doors. You can see the porch from the inside in the video at the bottom.

The foyer is small and cozy. I'm looking down from the 2nd floor. I think the foyer has the highest charm/square-foot ratio I've ever experienced.

Many mansions whack you upside the head with their foyer. Know what I mean?

This foyer says, "We are not giants, we're just folks who want you to feel comfortable in our house."

But the foyer is not just a foyer.

It's in the middle of a long upstairs enfilade from the children's wing, through the great room, to the master. It's a box seat with a balcony for observing the flow of folks through the house.

James told me that a McAlpine signature is a mirror on a window. Here you go: this is looking into the master bath, the mirror hanging above the sink in the center window.

There was so much to look at. I'd turn the chairs so I could look at the detials.

By this time the crowd was shoulder to shoulder inside. Kyle showed me this detail.

Most of us the bloggers got there early. Kyle - Well Composed Home, James - Limestone and Boxwoods, Blayne - This Photographer's Life (Architecture + Interior Design), John - Clickscape John also does a heroic job at the Midtown Archive, Holly, our hero and heroine, was there from Things That Inspire, Niki from Single Bubble Pop. Rodolofo doesn't exactly blog but he tweets @CastroDesignATL and Facebooks and is a best architect friend to bloggers.

Kyle, James, and Blayne had a moment in the keeping room before the multitudes arrived.

I don't want to embarrass anyone but Helen, Capella, Ally, Claire, Angela, Travis: This will go your permanent record unless you bring an written excuse. Cristi is excused, she sent Billy and he did run the party and we heard that the baby is really, really cute.

Finally, a little video of the great room before the crowd arrived.

Thanks so much so much to Blayne, Glennis and all the folks at Beacham & Company, REALTORS^® and to Bobby and to Bruce and Lisa. Thanks to the bloggers who have been so nice to me, who've shown me so much.

Asteria soundchecks Château de Germolles

2011-10-16T09:17:00.002-04:00

They sang, partly in whispers, and everyone in the Château could hear them.

Asteria Musica is Sylvia Rhyne, soprano, and Eric Redlinger, tenor and lute. They research and perform love songs from medieval France, 500 year old love songs. On Saturday night they lectured and sang at Agnes Scott for the SouthEastern Medieval Association.

The Architecture Tourist early music/chateau committee was there.

This is Château de Germolles: "It is the best preserved residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Built during the second part of the 14th century... a rare example of such a well preserved residence in France in the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries, when most of the princely palaces of that period have almost entirely disappeared...(it) evokes court life in France on the eve of the Renaissance."

So what does a 500 old love song sound like anyway? Eric and Sylvia's research includes singing at Château de Germolles.

Maybe a the songs sound a bit like this, the first song they performed at Agnes Scott. They taped this video in the Château.

I didn't understand a word of it. "It's like they (the French) have a different word for everything" -Steve Martin. But of course we did understand.

Did Philip the Bold and Margaret of Flanders hear these songs in this very room?

Who knows, but now I have the strongest urge to paint T's and J's on our bedroom walls. "J," JoAnn, is - of course - my loved one. Thanks to Maureen Nolan for the suggestion.

Sylvia and Eric start with a manuscript, perhaps the only one in existence. They use every means of scholarship to puzzle it out.

Has this song been heard in 500 years? Maybe not.

They visited the very places where the song might have been performed, where the Dukes of Burgundy could employ the finest composers and performers of the day.

Sylvia and Eric sang in these places themselves.

The hard surfaces and high ceilings bounced sound throughout the chateau. The whole court could would have heard a performance. Imagine the shushing.

They learned that they didn't need to sing in full voice. They could sing with dynamics, even in a whisper. Sound engineers and producers compress the dynamics out of music today so we can hear it on a car radio or on an iPod while we are jogging.

Nothing commands attention or evokes emotion like a whisper. They wouldn't have known if they hadn't sung in the Château.

An extraordinary evening, it's another case of wonderful blog serendipity.

See all the smiles? We'd seen and heard something special.

Thanks to Asteria Musica: Sylvia Rhyne, and Eric Redlinger, and to Donna Sadler, (right) Professor of Art at Agnes Scott College for putting the event together and allowing me to be there. Thanks to Marueen who made the connection 15 months ago in my post, "Quant la doulce jouvencelle - medieval letters and love songs."

One more song? "Le corps s'en va et le cuer vous demeure" ("The body departs and the heart remains with you") .

A room with Migraine lighting

2011-10-13T17:50:00.004-04:00

WARNING - Migraine Sufferers Should Avoid this Post - WARNING

Warning - don't scroll down.

Really: thinking about migraines is a migraine trigger for many folks.

Warning - don't scroll down.

Warning - don't scroll down.

Warning - don't scroll down.

Warning - don't scroll down.

It made me sick. The memory of the room makes me sick.

Do you get migraine headaches? Do you recognize your triggers? I get them and I can sometimes recognize my triggers.

Last night I went to a lecture in a trigger room. It's brand new, it's wonderful, it's huge, it still has the new car smell. It made me sick.

I exaggerated the contrast in this picture but it captures the essence. It's an evenly lit grey room with bright slivers on the walls and ceiling. The house lights were low so we could the the slide show. That emphasized the bright slashes.

Instinct warned me. I found a seat at the very front and cupped my hands like horse blinders so I couldn't see the walls. I enjoyed the lecture and bolted as soon as it was over.

When I encounter trigger room, a room with migraine lighting, I just want to shake some sense into the designer.

Don't they teach this stuff in lighting design school?

There is another lighting problem in the room, not a migraine problem but one that works against human comfort.

Design Pattern 252. POOLS OF LIGHT

"Uniform illumination - the sweetheart of the lighting engineers - serves no useful purpose whatsoever. In fact, it destroys the social nature of space, and makes people feel disoriented and unbounded...One word of caution. This pattern is easy to understand; and perhaps it is easy to agree with. But it is quite a subtle matter to actually create functioning pools of light in the environment."
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein.

Brickwork with Pinking Shears - Walking Edgewood with Dashboard Co-op and Terrence Jackson

2011-10-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

"On October 8th (2011) at 6pm, EIGHT artists will fill FIVE vacant buildings along Edgewood Ave with work specific to each space. This exhibition will encompass a series of individual shows that are each challenging and poignant while simultaneously activating 5 vacant buildings along a street that needs a lifeline." - Dashboard Co-op's Ground Floor.

So the Architecture Tourist Art Patrol did a slow evening walk on Edgewood.

For most of my life here, Edgwood was an interesting area I just wanted to get through safely. It's on the way from downtown to Inman Park. now it's an emerging hip area retaining a bit of rough seediness.

The slow walk in the dark let us "see" a few things for the firs time, like this crinkle cut brickwork in light and shadow.

It's tighter than 90 degrees.

I'd guess this building is 80+ years old. The corner shows some wear and tear.

It's now home to U Space Gallery.

Here is Terrence E. Jackson @uspace, the U Space boss for 8 years.

This is one of Terrence's. I like it.

He's giving the ceiling a major "do" but he's not finished.

I may have more tales about Edgewood and Dashboard Co-op's Ground Floor. You should'a been there.

Eclectic 21 hours around Atlanta

2011-10-08T11:35:00.002-04:00

We do get around when we can. On Thursday night I saw gloATL perform "Physical Suites on a Theme of Non Fiction" at ACAC. They danced the museum space inside and out and even the rafters. They let me watch for free. I felt like I was steeling. It's kind of crazy, there is no stage, they dance everywhere, the audience can go anywhere.

This is the beginning of a pax de deux. "Relaxed hands and feet with tension in the body."

Sometimes you need eyes in the back of your head to take it all in.

Here is a slide show of the whole event if you have a couple of minutes. It will give you a pretty good idea, turn up your speakers a little.

Next to Astolfi Art for Cynthia Knapp's opening reception. Alessandra told me that the artists came, a show of respect for the art and the artist.

It's no wonder. Catch these when you are at White Provision.

Here is Cynthia with artist (and fellow Grady dad) Tom Ferguson. She knows everybody, has worked with everybody, has helped everybody in Atlanta's art community. Here they are demonstrating the sartorial range and good humor of Atlanta artists.

Here are a few more pictures of Cynthia Knapp's opening at Astolfi Art.

On Friday I did my errands with included the airport.

Columbia Theological Seminary is building the Vernon S.Broyles Leadership Center. It a modern building somewhat sympathetic to "university Gothic" style already there.

It's got a tower which is nearly always cool.

I'm not sure this picture will make you fall in love but in person, I think this will be OK. You can't see the side that faces the older campus, which works pretty well.

On the way home I was cruising a tear-down and found the Village People in a backyard, appropriate for this Atlanta Pride Festival weekend. Folks in the know in my neighborhood will know just where to find this. Attn: Pecanne Log.

We avoid the interstate on the way home from the airport if we can.

Hapeville has trains and churches.

Central Avenue from Hapeville to East Point is major industrial. Men and boys will love it. Hard, dirty work gets done there. This is where you imagine artist colonies. It's the home of Pottery Land

And they got 'em.

East Point still has an active town center and some handsome buildings.

Hapeville is 100% real town.

Hapeville's Main Street is Highway 29. I headed north towards Fort Mac and flipped to Murphy on the east side of the tracks.

Murphy Avenue if a seriously funky street. I was looking for the 10-foot-Sharon at 920 Murphy by Ola Bad & Howdy Nater. It's legal.

So how did my fellow soccer mom come to be immortalized on Murphy? Hard work on behalf of Atlanta's artist community, for Eyedrum, Art on the Beltline and Living Walls. We love you Sharon.

The Krog Street Tunnel is too easy, but there it is.

Wow, two of my fellow soccer sideline companions in one Architecture Tourist post, how does that happen?

My Final Stop: North Avenue Presbyterian Church - APC Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-10-06T09:45:00.001-04:00

North Avenue Presbyterian Church was my 5th and final stop for the Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" Tour on September 25.

My first visit was in the fall of 1968 when my fraternity's "God Squad" visited. My latest visit was for Kate's (friend of the family) wonderful wedding.

If there is a church on a busier noisier stretch of Peachtree Street, I don't know it. Imagine a line of Harley's cruising Peachtree. This is the North Avenue facade. Trucks need to "gun it" to make it up the hill.

There are interesting stories about the mix of styles. In fact, they planned to demolish the sanctuary in favor of the more elaborate style of the building behind it. The Depression intervened. The change of roof materials show the expansion to the sanctuary.

This is where Westminster School started. It's traditional that the pastor of NAPC serve on the Westminster board as Senior Pastor, D. Scott Weimer, does today. Many prominent Atlantans worshiped here.

The Peachtree facade is not overwhelming. This is the way most folks see it, when the light at North is red and you have a chance to look.

It's pretty common for folks to sleep beneath the arches. The Atlanta Task Force for The Homeless is down the street and this is a downtown church.

The first service in this building was on Thanksgiving Day, 1900. The granite is from Stone Mountain, owned for a time by the Venable family, church members then and now.

They don't claim the sanctuary as the most beautiful or the biggest. An expansion put the big transept windows and oculus a bit off. It not something you can't put your finger on.

You notice the windows.

The big north window.

The big south window.

The pre-expansion windows are from Tiffany.

The "newer" windows toward the chancel are from Willet.

This is a Willet.

Windows of a different era and style in the Narthex.

A modern window in a lobby.

Thanks to Carlisle Young (center) our tour guide from North Avenue PC for the tour and to Mickey Leso (right) volunteer from the Atlanta Preservation Center.

gloATL performs "Livers" at Flux 2011

2011-10-03T22:24:00.002-04:00

Do you understand the title? If you do, you were probably there. If you don't, then follow gloATL and Flux Projects on Facebook, @gloATL and @FluxProjects on Twitter.

Flux 2011: night of art + experimentation September 30, 2011 8 pm to midnight castleberry hill arts district (pictured below D'AIR Aerial Dance Theatre at Flux)

gloATL: a collaborative platform of exceptional contemporary physical performance. gloATL’s mission is to create exceptional contemporary dance through live performance, public works, and a choreographic LAB

"Livers": A contemporary physical performance...Sonic Gestural Kinesthetic Being Together “We are all Livers.” Guy Debord...

"Livers" was one of 34+ happenings on Friday night. Livers alone was too much to take in. Flux was overwhelming.

I'm afraid my little camera could only manage a blur, a poor substitute for being there.

A dancer waited alone in the fog between two buildings, a stage of wood chips.

Meanwhile, the company gathered on the Peter's Street railroad bridge.

They bolted and stopped unpredictably in their lumpy leotards. Did they notify the Ministry of Silly Walks?

They knew where they were going but we didn't.

They stopped to twist and shimmy to shake and wave. The man pushed the music in a grocery cart.

Look at the faces in the crowd. Most were seeing the dancers for the first time. "What is going on?" They moved fast. They turned right on Fair Street. I had to run to keep up.

When we'd stop to grok, shapes would slink by.

The crowd was thick as the company raced north on Walker. I could barely keep up with the gloATL piggy-backers making their way though the crowd.

The company arrived.

I'm at a loss: It was a mystery. It was mesmerizing, unpredictable.

Not everybody enjoyed that sort of thing.

I was happy to lose myself for a little while.

The crowd was part of the performance. For most gloATL performances, there isn't a specific place for the audience.

There were several pas-de-deux's.

There was some fun. I called this the turtle-back.

gloAtl leader and "dancemaker"Lauri Stallings looked on.

It wasn't all smooth ballet moves.

The troop climbed out though the balcony...

...leaving a pair alone in the fog.

It was magic for a while, disorienting, mesmerizing, memorable. There will only be 2 performance of Livers. This was the first. The 2nd began an hour later.

They needed a rest but the rest was part of the performance too.

And it didn't break the spell.

Now do you understand the title? I don't think I've explained a thing.

My 4th Stop: South-View Cemetery - APC Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-10-02T11:10:00.001-04:00

I wasn't expecting this to be the highlight of the tour. Prominent Atlantans led us to graves of several extraordinary folks resting there.

Rev. Dr. Michael N. Harris pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church.

South-View Cemetery was my next stop for the Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" tour. South-View was the first resting place of Martin Luther King Jr., here:

'The oldest African-American “non eleemosynary” corporation in the country (1886), South-View Cemetery is the final resting place for over 70,000 African Americans. Many of whom have made significant contributions to American history and the struggle for freedom and peace. Among the many notables are men and women who were scholars, business owners, pastors, professors, military heroes, musicians, athletes, and civil rights activists.'

It's on quiet rolling hilltops on Jonesboro Road, about 4 miles north of Scott's Antique Market. You've probably never been in the neighborhood just east of Lakewood.

Atlanta's Oakland and Westview Cemeteries have many extraordinary monuments. The wealth of South-View in the legacy of those interred there.

We gathered at the angel for an introduction by Dr. D.L. Henderson, a board member of Historic South-View Preservation Foundation, and of Oakland Foundation.

We hiked the hills.

We stopping at balloon marked graves.

We heard the histories.

We headed the the next one.

It was and impossibly beautiful late afternoon but warm enough that we sought the shade.

Our procession stretched out as the tour continued.

I was so fortunate to be there.

3rd Stop: Big Bethel AME Church - APC Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-09-29T22:14:00.005-04:00

Auburn Avenue is known around the world. It's home to many important churches. Big Bethel is one of them, an imposing granite landmark, pillar of the community for 164 years, home church to many Atlantans. This is where Morris Brown College began in 1881. That's just scratching the surface.

On Saturday afternoon I visited Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for the Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" tour.

If you've visited the M.L. King Historic District, there is no missing it. You can even see it from the highway looking west from the I75-85 connector. The steeple has a lighted cross with "Jesus Saves" on it.

"Big Bethel A. M. E. Church was founded in 1847, and is the oldest predominantly African American congregation in the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area....The existing building was rebuilt in 1922, after being destroyed by fire in 1920 and erected with a lighted cross in the steeple with the message, "Jesus Saves." All walls, except the west wall (the wall next to the organ) are original. The stained glass windows in the balcony feature our founders, Bishop Richard Allen, Bishop Henry M. Turner and Bishop Joseph S. Flipper."

It was time to see inside, but I wasn't ready for this. I needed a bigger camera, and a bigger heart.

We gathered downstairs and toured in small groups.

As we climbed the stairs, the windows hinted that we were on our way to something special.

As indeed we were.

The sanctuary was filled with light. I couldn't imagine that we were inside a granite monument.

We didn't have to imagine how the Möller Organ. We heard it for ourselves.

The founders keep an eye on things from the balcony windows.

Giant windows flank the chancel.

I could touch the ceiling beams from the balcony. They are stamped metal. The detail shows through many coats of paint.

This is Auburn Avenue.

They had pictures of nearly all of their pastors back to 1844 reminding us that it's the people not building.

Now I've seen inside.

This is a 1926 recording of the Big Bethel choir. That's about halfway back to the founding.

182 scale 2011-09-30

2nd Stop: Paces Ferry UMC - APC Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-09-27T09:40:00.000-04:00

I began my Saturday at the Paces Ferry United Methodist Church for the Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" tour.

Paces Ferry Road is home to the Governors Mansion and many of Atlanta finest homes. A church on "Paces" should be big.

I guess this wasn't so in 1896. On a hilltop on Paces Ferry at Mr. Paron it remains a quiet place in the woods. It's a scene you might find anywhere in the Appalachian foothills. It shares the Architecture Tourist award for "Buckhead's small and lovable churches" with New Hope AME Church on Arden Road.

A familiar shape.

It has never burned. They take extraordinary care with candles. A wedding party that insisted on candles hired a fire truck to stand by in the parking lot.

I'm an architecture optimist: beauty doesn't require billions. If you build something beautiful and lovable, people will try to keep it forever.

No surprises inside, exactly what we'd expect, exactly what we'd want.

The Pleasant Hill Cemetery is older than the building, older than the congregation itself.

Union soldiers remain buried here.

Wm Brown donated the property to the church.

You can unwind and remember on this hill.

Thanks to lay minister, Steven Unti, Kristin Puckett, and to the Paces Ferry congregation for their hospitality.

They'd be happy to see you on any Sunday.

Pictures from 1st Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-09-26T09:28:00.004-04:00

Your humble blogger is all tuckered out. I toured a giant synagogue, a tiny hill-top church, a granite landmark church on Auburn Avenue, and a granite landmark church on Peachtree. I hiked the sacred hills of a south Atlanta cemetery, Decatur, and Agnes Scott College. I regret missing the tour of Al Farooq Masjid, the towers on 14th street. Here is the Sacred Spaces brochure from the Atlanta Preservation Center.

One of the angels at South-View Cemetery.

Thanks Atlanta Preservation Center, to Brandy Morrison, the chief organizer, our event hosts and volunteers, to my fellow architecture tourists.

Anyway, I'd like to blog everything but today I'll just link to my pictures.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue - Pictures - Blog: 1st Stop: Ahavath Achim Synagogue APC Sacred Spaces Tour

Paces Ferry United Methodist Church - Pictures.

Big Bethel African AME Church - Pictures

South-View Cemetery - Pictures

North Avenue Presbyterian Church - Pictures

This my Flickr photo collection with all the pictures.

Thanks.

1st Stop: Ahavath Achim Synagogue APC Sacred Spaces Tour

2011-09-23T00:25:00.009-04:00

Finally. After driving by for nearly 40 years, I got to see it. I was there for 2 1/2 hours. Though modern and minimal, I couldn't take it all in. I can only give you hints.

The Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" tour started last night with Ahavath Achim Synagogue. There are more events Saturday and Sunday that cover the spectrum. It's easy and free. You need to R.S.V.P for a few of them.

Andre Steiner designed Ahavath Achim Synagogue which was completed in 1958. Druid Hills folks know Andre Steiner from Briar Park Court. Perli Pelzig designed the stained glass windows and more, that's another story.

These are the chapel windows.

The whole composition.

The chapel windows from inside.

This is the view from the west parking lot. The small box is the chapel, the big box is the 2,500 seat sanctuary.

The entrance to the chapel is straight ahead.

We gathered in the lobby. Brandy Morrison who put the APC Sacred Spaces together and Tom Little, a leader of DOCOMOMO Georgia introduced the tour. Tom is the tall guy with glasses on the left.

Historian and author Doris Goldstein gave us a little history and a tour of their beautiful museum.

The sanctuary seats 2,500 and has room for 3,500 in a pinch. Big, warm, not intimidating, it's minimal with plenty to see.

The windows are more folky than abstract and are loaded with symbolism. Each of the 28 windows in the sanctuary deserves a long look.

Rabbi Neil Sandler made us feel at home as he introduced us to the congregation and symbolism.

Architect, Stanley Daniels told us more about the structure. In 1958 the style for churches/synagogues was "awesome" (I'm using my own terms here). These days the style is "intimate." Mr. Daniels discussed how they might make this room a bit more intimate.

However that turns out, I'm happy to see the awesome.

Then the unexpected highlight: They opened the Aron Kodesh.

It took a few folks to find the latch.

These handmade objects broadcast life into the rather severe room. I was moved.

All eyes to the front.

We ended the evening with a film about Andre Steiner, "Andre's Lives." Here is Andrew Kohr introducing the film. That's another extraordinary story.

After 2+ hours I was satisfied, exhausted, overwhelmed and grateful. I hope to return.

Thanks to the Atlanta Preservation Center and to Ahavath Achim for this architecture tourist opportunity.