Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Gordon Stringer, Friend, Designer, R.I.P.

He said, "It needs something yellow down there." Then he proved it.

Earl Gordon Stringer, Jr., 1938 - 2013, died a couple of weeks ago. Do you mind a few random memories? After 25 years we have so many. If you have memories, I hope you'll share them in the comments.

Gordon didn't like his picture taken but we have a few. We even have Gordon in time-lapse action at the bottom of this blog post.

Gordon hung every picture in our house, picked every color, every fabric, nearly every piece of furniture. He arranged. And when he thought we needed it, he re-arranged. As much as anyone he was and still is in our house. We had some greats times in the process.

WSPC0238
If Gordon wasn't sitting down, he was probably moving things around.

Over time we thought of Gordon as the designer in the family, our colorful uncle.  He saw our children grow up. He knew us. He knew when to push and when to back off. And he really knew how to return a favor.

He was my favorite architecture tourist companion. He knew great potential, great houses, great landscapes, and great details all over Atlanta. Here's how it often went: He'd say, "You need to do this to your sidewalk." We'd think, "That's crazy." Then he'd take us to see what he was talking about. We'd say, "Why did we doubt you?"

Gordon's talent and experience demonstrated the value of designers: For the same money you can have a space that sucks or a space that delights you every day. Gordon could "see" potential, "see" outcomes, and he knew how to make it happen.

Gordon worked by the hour, handshake deals, no contracts, word of mouth marketing, many long-term clients. Wise realtors gave him a bonus when a house sold. No days off, no vacations. He loved to do it.

But even Gordon tired out once in a while. He certainly enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation, a meal, a movie after the work was done.

All Gordon's friends knew "Gordon Time." Gordon was perfectly predictable if not perfectly punctual. He liked to finish with you before the next appointment.

Another "Gordon Time" meant unexpected visits; but after a while you expected unexpected visits. We'd spot him from the window and announce, "Gordon's here."

The third "Gordon Time" involved extended evenings. He enjoyed winding down his evenings with folks he knew. Sometimes it dragged on but he was good company. Finally he'd say, We'll I'd better get our of your way."

Everybody has Gordon stories. One of  my favorites and I don't know where it came from was something like: "If Gordon had a good agent/manager, he'd have been a millionaire." I believe that's true.

But measured in terms of doing what he enjoyed and in the delightful places he designed for clients and friends, he was a rich man.

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Gordon took great delight in using what you had. Moving stuff, composing on the fly was one of Gordon's fortes. It was a sight to behold and it got instant results.

He wouldn't stop until he'd done the very best with the material at hand. He'd raid other rooms looking for "material at hand." On the next visit he might have a lamp, a pillow, or a throw that pulled it together.


This was June 3, 2012 our last project with him. Gordon had already perfected our green "jungle" office. In June he was determined to make it better.

All who knew Gordon learned what "epic" means. Gordon could - and did - work ordinary folks into physical, mental, and exasperation-al exhaustion. 

For example: We put our house on the Morningside Tour in 1990. JoAnn and I had no idea, no idea at all. Gordon got our house ready, keeping us all going until 4am. He went over every inch of the house, adjusting things by inches.

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We met Gordon in 1988. We asked Crythis Bristow (a leading real estate agent in our neighborhood) if she knew anyone who'd advise us on remodeling or moving so we'd have room for our child #3. Gordon was Crythis's not so secret weapon: Gordon staged houses long before there were TV shows about it.

Gordon's advice about his staging: "Get Ready to Move."

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We'd need a trilogy to tell it, but that started our 25 year friendship / relationship.

Gordon was 50 then. However talented he was, he already had 30+ years of experience.

PB261953-2009-11-26-Thanksgiving-Sitting-To-Eat-Nathan
Design is so personal that you end up inviting the designer for holiday meals.

On that thanksgiving dinner Gordon ate at a table he'd picked out for us 20 years before. It's our laundry room table. We move it to the big room, unfold it and have a table for 8. We had no idea, but Gordon had been at it for decades.

PB261965-2009-11-26-Thanksgiving-Group-Picture-Cropped
We even put him in the family picture.

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Your designer is more intimate than your doctor. A doctor see's you naked, but he doesn't look in your messy closets.

It's not getting into an argument WITH the designer, it's getting into an argument IN FRONT of the designer.

Once you develop a relationship with a designer, you stick with him. That was certainly true with Gordon. When clients transferred to other cities, they'd fly Gordon out to pick their house.

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See these bookcases with ovals? Gordon always had his eye out for you. He spotting these while shopping for other clients. They were cheap, beautiful, and met a practical need. He called, we bought. Why would we doubt him? This was a great day.

I'm wearing you out with Gordon so just one more.

DSCF0616TestingExteriorColorsStools-gordon
Color was Gordon's thing. He was an Olympic level athlete with paint chips. On this day Gordon was picking out exterior colors with JoAnn. After all we WERE going to repaint one day. And this was pure pleasure for Gordon, and even more fun with the stone to consider and the trim, shutters and mullions.


Cabin Fever 4B 1540
House

Jackson Tan HC-46
Mullion

River Gorge Gray 2B 15
Trim

Sharkskin 2139-30
House
Durango 2137-30
House

Norwich Brown HC-19
Mullion

Amazon Green 2136-30
Mullion

Warm Tan 2162-30
Mullion

Dark Olive 2140-30
House

Glocester Sage HC-100
House

Cromwell Gray HC-103
House

Crownville Gray HC-106
House

Charleston Brown ext rm
Mullion

The next step will be to narrow down and test.

But Gordon won't be here to see how beautiful.

Gordon in time-lapse action.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Jaw Drop: Emory's new Marble Clad Brumley Bridge is a Drive-Thru

I'd seen the steel structure go up and thought, "Cool, a bridge." But university building is so common who pays attention?

 
So on this gloomy Saturday morning I was driving to Jonathan LaCross's Shutze Lecture. I turned down Haygood Drive in front of Druid Hills High School.

THEY COVERED THE BRIDGE WITH MARBLE!! I hope it's Georgia marble, a theme for Emory's buildings. By by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP (ZGF).

"A working bridge connecting a new Health Sciences Research Building to the Emory-Children's Center will be named in memory of George W. Brumley, MD." - Emory University News July 28, 2011

I guess folks will work on the bridge. That sounds good to me. 

P1160763-2013-02-23-Emory-Childrens-Research-Center-Brumley-Bridge-in-Marble-Haygood-Drive
The clerestory look and overhanging roof in the building to the left is a theme for Emory's more modern buildings.

See it when you are in the neighborhood. It's a drive-through.


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If there is a grand opening / ribbon cutting, let's go.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Nine Teardowns Done

These Atlanta teardowns mostly South of Buckhead are done There are more of these than ever in the intown neighborhoods. Somebody's got some money. The spec houses sell fast, most before they are complete. A few of these are custom designs.

One was a poptop:


Morningside
P1090235-2012-06-19--1224-Cumberland-Rd-Teardown-before

P1100625-2012-07-26--1224-Cumberland-Rd-Teardown-demolition-0953am-detail-full

P1150784-2013-01-29--1224-Cumberland-Rd-Teardown-morningside-complete

Lake Claire:
2011-10-10-546-Hardendorf-Ave-at-Harriet-Teardown-Before-Front

P1050577-2012-03-12--546-Hardendorf-Ave-Teardown-WIP

P1120050-2012-09-17-546-Hardendorf-Ave-Teardown-Complete-Front-east-elevation

Buckhead
2011-11-04-2897-N-Fulton-Dr-NE-Teardown-1

P1080800-2012-05-24-2897-N-Fulton-Dr-NE-Teardown-WIP-12-over-12-in-context-full

P1110523-2012-08-30--2897-N-Fulton-Dr-NE-Teardown-complete-4-square-piano-nobel

Morningside
P1010997-2011-11-07-1330-Lanier-Boulevard-Poptop-Before-1

P1040666--2011-02-06--1330-Lanier-Boulevard-Poptop-remove-low-roof

P1120569-2012-10-02-1330-Lanier-Boulevard-Poptop-complete-full 

Sherwood Forest
2012-12-17--1594-Friar-Tuck-Road-teardown-before-1

P1040108-2012-01-17--1594-Friar-Tuck-Road-teardown-WIP-Contractor-Archtict-Signs-Stanback-Hess-studio--Dresser-Homes

P1110831-2012-09-10--1594-Friar-Tuck-Road-teardown-complete-detal

Midtown
P1071635-Midtown-Sideways-Yello-Diagonal-9th-street-teardown

P1000559-2011-09-25-Dencity-9th-Street-Teardown-WIP

P1140708-20-12-12-19-9th Street-Teardown-Modern-Dencity-complete-detail


Lenox Park (Morningside)
P1000015-2011-09-13-Teardown-1714-Wildwood-before-driveway

P1040563-2012-02-01--1714-Wildwood-Rd--teardown-roof-framing-from-side-detail

P1140353-2012-12-03--1714-Wildwood-Rd-teardown-complete


Winnona Park Decatur
2012-03-02--708-Avery-St-Decatur-Teardown-before-4

P1050466-2012-03-09--708-Avery-St-Decatur-Teardown-demo-in-context-Stoney-Rivers-Homes-full

P1140560-2012-12-14--708-Avery-St-Decatur-Teardown-detail-complete

Argonne Forest, Buckhead
2011-09-26-3176-Argonne-Dr-Teardown-Before2

P1030508-2011-12-28-3176 ArgonneDrNW-Tearddown-WIP-Roofline-dormer

P1160039-2013-02-04--3176-Argonne-Dr-NW-Tearddown-complete


Monday, February 18, 2013

Let's Help Save This Capital View 1903 Victorian Damaged by Fire

It's hard to tell from the street. After 109 years it burned on February 8, 2013. It's at 1474 Metropolitan Parkway at the intersection of Deckner (see the map below). In fact this is the a Deckner House in the Capital View Neighborhood.

Thanks to Pitgrrrl for this, more in the comments: "Hi Terry, thanks for this post! This is actually not THE Deckner house, but it is one of them. The Deckner house is located next door to this one at 1488 Metropolitan Pkwy SW and it was built in 1870, by Charles Deckner..," more in the comments below.


This heroic red roof and curvy porch are welcome landmarks on the mostly grim Metropolitan Parkway, Highway 41 south of the Dome. It's a sign of life, history, and hope for this part of Atlanta.

The Creatives Project was in the process of buying the place, turning it into an art and cultural center: The HeArt House. They are still determined to do it. You can help:
  1. Get the word out. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Emails.
  2. Find out about the The Creatives Project, one of many great things in Atlanta. It's easy on Twitter @creativespro @theHeARThouse and Facebook.
  3. Help them out if you can.
  4. Visit the house and Capital View in person. I'll go with you and we can explore Pittsburgh, Avery Park, Sylvan Hills, Hapeville, and the BeltLine while we're at it.


P1160409-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-rear-wing
There isn't a perfect example of in intact, preserved Victorian. Folks have added on, replaced the rot, and lived here.

P1160410-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-roof-holes
Ugh.

P1160413-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-across-the-street
This is the view west from the front steps.

These few blocks of Metropolitan are the handsome, somewhat weary public face of Capital View whose quiet streets and parks lie mostly west of Metropolitan.

P1160417-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-Capitol-View-Elementary-School
This is the view if you are heading north. Capitol View Elementary School now closed is on the left of this picture.

P1160403-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-detail
When you hear 100-year-old-Victorian, you imagine a preserved gingerbread masterpiece built for the gentry. It's not that kind of Victorian.

P1160404-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-front-door
As you get close you can see the wear, tear, and repair of the decades.

P1160404-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-porch-smoke-line
Getting close enough to see the smoke line is a heart breaker to Architecture Tourists and everybody else.

P1160405-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-Porch-south-addition
There's a non-Victorian wing to the south.

P1160408-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-rear-wing
The half-moon widow in on the rear of the south addition. The rear (east) side addition looks sturdy and practical.

P1160411-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-ceilings
Some joists and stud walls don't look too bad. I'd worry about the roof structure.

P1160416-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-north-gable
It remains a mighty handsome place. At 45 mph you won't notice the scars.

P1160405-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-Capital-View-The-Creatives-Project-Porch-room-chimney
But you'll certainly enjoy the roof.

P1160399-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-The-Creatives-Project-Sheila-Pree-Bright
Park on Deckner where it T-bones Metropolitan from the west.

P1160418-2013-02-12-1474-Metropolitan-Parkway-burndown-The-Collective-Project-Sheila-Pree-Bright-Deckner-Mural-detail
You'll be rewarded with  "Young Americans" by Sheila Pree Bright, one of my favorites for Living Walls, 2012.

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