Terry's Tiny Tips for Architecture Tours with Teens & Teachers

Almost all of them were taller than me. And smarter. Even the quiet ones crackled with energy. It's as if their sensors were all dialed to 11 while most of mine have been shut down by age and experience.

It was Excursion Week at Galloway. Our 20-student group chose "Interaction of Art and Social Justice" with the theme of "separate but equal." With the help of Galloway artist in residence and Georgia State sculpture professor Ruth Stanford the group explored, researched, and made some art. Galloway teacher Mary Stuart Hall gave me Tuesday to "do something." Mary and former Galloway principal, Gordon Mathis, had two little buses at our disposal to take on the town.

My idea was to visit neighborhoods and corridors "below the line" in the morning then talk with Atlanta's city planners in the afternoon.


"Below the Line" Courtesy Atlanta City Studio, Ryan Gravel, Tim Keane, Jodi Mansbach, Vanessa Lira, Kevin Bacon (Atlanta's Kevin Bacon), Heather Alhadeff, and more.

To compare the booming corridors like Peachtree Street


"Peachtree Corridor" Courtesy Atlanta City Studio, Ryan Gravel, Tim Keane, Jodi Mansbach, Vanessa Lira and more.

To compare booming Peachtree with the less booming west side.



To compare the booming Peachtree corridor with the less booming westside corridors of  Donald Lee Hollowell, Joseph Boone, Ralph David Abernathy. Courtesy Atlanta City Studio, Ryan Gravel, Tim Keane, Jodi Mansbach, Vanessa Lira, and more.


We saddled up at Chastain Park.

Our first stop was at Lincoln Cemetery which led us through English Avenue and Vine City. Lincoln Cemetery 1926, an early African American Cemetery

Next stop Washington Park

"Prior to the construction of Washington Park in 1919, there were no recreational parks in Atlanta available to African Americans. The park started with a gift of six and a half acres and expanded to 25 acres (100,000 m2) when completed in 1928. It originally included a swimming pool, dance hall, pavilions, and tennis courts."


Washington Park


I did not know that the current SW BeltLine construction ends at Washington Park. This place will change!


We'll be able to bike to swim at the Washington Park Natatorium.

Next stop Brown Middle School and West End.

Formerly Brown High School.

Joseph E. Brown Jr. High School, located at 765 Peeples Street SW in Atlanta's West End neighborhood, was opened in 1924

Then we did a West End Walkabout, in my opinion one of the most charming neighborhoods in Atlanta.

My personal favorite activity: small blocks, styles that have been consistently popular for 150 years, mix of sizes, close to the curb in a way that enhances the beauty of the street as a public space for all passersby.


Agree?


Corner of Peeples and Ralph David Abernathy.

How we marched.


The West End Parade.

Then to Ponce City Market for lunch and a lecture at Atlanta City Studio.

Because by then we had some questions.


Jodi Mansbach had the slides.


Jodi had the giant posters.


Jodi had the big table.

That was just Tuesday!

On Thursday I rejoined the excursion at the Atlanta Contemporary.

I'll let you in on an art secret in case you didn't look.

What is really behind this piece Phillip Andrew Lewis’ Distribution in Red, 



It's the Colonel.



Tiny tips for touring with teens? I'll work on these for next time.

1. Get two experienced teachers for each 10 students.
2. Do lunch with options: Ponce City Market and the Sweet Auburn Market are superb.
3. Talk briefly to the group whenever you can get them together.
4. Stop talking before they stop listening.
5. Huddle with teachers at stopping points.They make it look easy but...
6. Find a way to integrate their phones. Students are superb at their phones.
7. Pretend that they can't smell you fear.
8. Enjoy the ride though it won't turn out exactly as planed.

Thanks so much for the experience.

CSX Railroad Bridge Beauty Contest & Navigation Primer

We moved to Grant Park and I've got railroad problems. I need quick ways, a pretty ways, interesting ways to cross the tracks.

Kind of fun for Architecture Tourists.


Let me show you.


Hill Street has a bit of a cornice, mosaics, and classical detailing with sidewalk colonnades.


Grant Street looks all minimal with the MLK Station's cantilever in the composition. There are usually walkers and bikers heading to MARTA and frequent urban campers. Wide unprotected sidewalks.


Boulevard has a grand run-up with Oakland Cemetery, Carrol Street, and the Bag Mill. The bridge's interaction with Dekalb Avenue featutes real pedestrian danger. Add MOMO's  multi-tagged nearly ruined mural. It's the bridge of history, industry and drama.


Krog Street in a class by itself, pedestrians protected on a raised colonnaded balcony. There are usually people there and the view changes. When this opens as the BeltLine, who knows?


Moreland Avenue is US Route 23 and Georgia 42 with all the rights and privileges that pertain. The closest bridge to big box commerce and Five Guys. It has its own rush hour.


Oakdale Road / Whitefoord Avenue has its own MARTA station and TOD (Transportation Oriented Development) construction galore. Was one of my secret pre-move shortcuts but it's getting busy at rush hour with it's sneaky back way into the Edgewood Shopping Center.


Arizona Avenue is the bridge that's not like the others, industrial on one side and big wall on the other. Plus Hense and Lemon Lane.


Dekalb Place / Rocky Ford is the first gateway between Lake Claire and Kirkwood / Oakhurst.


East Lake Drive has it's own MARTA station and water tower and hey, we're in Decatur.

The tracks follow Dekalb Avenue:


Thanks.

The Very Best Master Suite on the Ansley Tour of Homes

I have rules for master suites, absolutely nothing to do with decor or style. I'm pretty sure they don't teach these in architecture/designer/developer school. I'll mention three now and four more at the end of the post.

1. The sleeping chamber must be cozy and intimate.
2. The light from the bathroom must not fall on a pillow.
3. The dressing  / closet / bathroom must have a back door.

Did you do the 2016 Ansley Park Tour of  Homes last weekend? Big thanks to Laura Palickar for the opportunity. It's a privilege to see them and I saw every one.

I remember this master suite most of all. I'd seen it before when it was last for sale. The wise new owners didn't change the master suite. Maybe this house helped form my rules.

The master is in this house:


The glorious stair hall.

Here's the master suite.

 
The "U" shape wraps around the east and southern exposures. A ribbon of windows brings in stunning natural light. Going from bedchamber to office is like walking on a private sunlit balcony.

The sleeping chamber is just right, wish I'd measured it.

"...everyone forgets that everything important that happened to them probably happened in a small space or a small room..."  Bobby McAlpine interviewed by James Swan for Million Dollar Decorating

You are up early, you slip into the dressing room and exit via the office without disturbing the loved one.

Four rules for master showers, nearly always violated even in the most luxurious houses.

1. You must be able to see outdoors.
2. You must be able to turn on the shower without getting into the shower, without getting wet.
3. You must have some privacy in the shower. Modern all glass showers are nudie shows. You can have all the light you want AND have a view while preserving some modesty.
4. You shouldn't need a shower door.

More rules another time. Thanks.