Friday, December 9, 2016

People, street trees, & buildings share a comparable life expectancy, about 80 years

Building life expectancy:  "There's a lot of spread in that. The average residential building lasts about  150 years, but the average Walmart or a (not so hot) apartment complex last 10 or 15 years but the average is 80 years." Paul Knight's Streets Lecture - Part 1 



Please Come see part 2: Streets: Designing a Master Street Plan (Part II) on Tuesday, December 13th at 6:30 pm at the Atlanta City Studio on the 2nd floor of Ponce City Market.

"Streets" is one the Architecture Tourists favorite subjects, streets as public spaces, making them more fun, less boring, more democratic.

It's free. I'll be there. Please say hey. Don't let the word "lecture" scare you off. This will be fun.

Paul L. Knight, architectural and urban designer at Historical Concepts and president of Douglas C. Allen Institute for the Study of Cities, will present his second lecture about Streets on Tuesday, December 13th at 6:30 pm at the Studio. Last month we learned why streets are the most critical and long-lasting components of our cities. If you missed it, you can view a recording of the lecture below. This month, Paul Knight returns to explain how to analyze the best examples of American town planning, garnering design lessons and principles that can be used for future development.The free second seminar focuses on master street planning and design. Come join us to learn how streets can improve our cities. Please come early--it was a packed house last time and we ran out of chairs.

Here's part 1, about 38 minutes. Part 3 to be announced soon.




What is the Douglas C. Allen Institute for the Study of Cities?

Saturday, November 26, 2016

1981 - Georgia Power Moved Four Blocks & Abandoned Downtown



All the folks I knew at Georgia Power / Southern Company worked at the corner of Peachtree and Baker. In 1981 they moved to the new Georgia Power Corporate Headquarters. Georgia Power moved out of downtown while technically staying downtown. Many of our big corporate citizens follow suit. They aren't coming back downtown.

20161125_135236 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
I like the place OK. I've been to a meeting in the top floor boardroom, nice with a terrific view. Way better than the Jackson Street bridge.

But these folks aren't on Peachtree any more.

20161122_145455 2016-11-22 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
Seemed like a cool idea at the time. The utilities were growing with the region, security was a big issue, and the energy crises. They decided to build an energy conscious landmark between the downtown connector and the Civic Center.

And hey, nearly 300,000 vehicle occupants see it every day.

20161125_134559 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
Round here you need a fence and wall.

20161125_134636 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
Shuttles park here.

20161125_135134 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
Pedestrian entrance with nice private park to the right.

20161125_134628 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
Lot's of fences. A suburban office park.

20161125_134954 2016-11-25 Georgia Power Building  241 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta GA 30308
But more private.

This has bugged me for 35 years.

Would they do this today? I think not. They'd just build in Midtown like NCR or at Permeinter like State Farm or Sandy Springs like Mercedes-Benz.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Michael Kleeman - J. Neel Reid Prize Winner, 2002 focus on Sebastiano Serlio

Heck of a night August 13. It was the BlackCatTips (Kyle Brooks) solo show for the Art Institute of Atlanta. I met Kyle's mom and dad, I met Nicole Jacobs, and I met Michael Kleeman, the Academic Department Director for Design, Leading Interior Design, Illustration, Graphic and Web Design for The Art Institute of Atlanta.

I've wanted to blog Michael for the last five years because...


Michael Kleeman is the J. Neel Reid Prize winner for 2002 and I'm trying to blog all the prize winners.


Because this is the kind of work Neel Reid Prize winners can do. Hat tip to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation who awards this prize and to author William R. Mitchell whose book, J. Need Reid Architect helps fund the prize.

The application deadline for the 2017 Neel Reid Prize is February 10, 2017.


Italicized text is from Michael's prize application.
Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (3) Sansovino’s Library  Venice
Sansovino’s Logetta, Venice

 Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (4) Sansovino’s Library and Logetta, Venice

Sansovino’s Library and Logetta, Venice

"Venice to study the work of Sansovino
Vincenza to study the work of Palladio
Verona to study the rok of Sanmicheli
Mantua to study the work of Romano
Florence to study the work of Vasari and Ammanati
Rome to study the work of Vignola and da Sangallo the Younger"

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (6)
Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (7)
Basilica, Venice

"I hope to complete my research of Sebastiano Serlio through first hand recording of the works of his contemporaries throughout Italy."

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (8)

  Palazzo Porto, Vicenza, Italy
Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (9) Villa  Rotunda



Villa Rotunda.

 "The conferenacse that I attend and present at, the classes that I instruct currently at Georgia Tech...lead to my goal of becoming a professorof architectural history and promoting that field within the schools of architecture."

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (10) Palazzo te
Palazzo Te

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (11)

Palazzo del Te or Palazzo Te is a palace in the suburbs of Mantua, Italy. It is a fine example of the mannerist style of architecture, the acknowledged masterpiece of Giulio Romano.

"I remember...seeing only one slide of some buildings folowed by research in textbooks showing the same view again."

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (12)
The Palazzo degli Uffizi (Uffizi Palace) was built between 1560 and 1580 to house the administration of the government of grand duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The elegant building was designed by the duke's favorite architect, Giorgio Vasari,

Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (13) Palazzo Pandolfini
Palazzo Pandolfin 
 
Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (15) Palazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti.

 Kleeman drawings NReid-2002 (17)

"By allowing me to gain a first hand understanding I take a step coloser to bringing that information back though my sketches, photographs, notes. and memories. "

Sunday, October 30, 2016

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.

20161025_084448 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
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."

20161025_100041 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
Washington Park

20161025_101301 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio beltline project end
I did not know that the current SW BeltLine construction ends at Washington Park. This place will change!

20161025_102641 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park Natatorium West End Atlanta City Studio
We'll be able to bike to swim at the Washington Park Natatorium.

Next stop Brown Middle School and West End.
P1050035-2012-02-25--Airport-Drive-West-End-Brown-Middle-School
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.

20161025_105743 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
Agree?

20161025_110036 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
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.

20161025_133452 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
Jodi Mansbach had the slides.

20161025_130112 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
Jodi had the giant posters.

20161025_131721 2016-10-25 Galloway field trip Tuesday Washington Park West End Atlanta City Studio
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, 

20161027_135513 2016-10-27 Galloway Excursion Intersection of Art and Social Justice field trip Thursday Atlanta Contemporary

It's the Colonel.

20161027_135608 2016-10-27 Galloway Excursion Intersection of Art and Social Justice field trip Thursday Atlanta Contemporary

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.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

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.

20161010_120415 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Hill Street
Hill Street has a bit of a cornice, mosaics, and classical detailing with sidewalk colonnades.

20161010_120630 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Grant Street
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.

20161010_121051 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Boulevard
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.

20161010_121432 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Krog Street Tunnel
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?

20161010_122109 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Moreland Avenue
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.

20161010_122355 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Oakdale Whitefoord
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.

20161010_122648 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Arizona Avenue
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.

20161010_122923 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Dekalb Place Rocky Ford
Dekalb Place / Rocky Ford is the first gateway between Lake Claire and Kirkwood / Oakhurst.

20161010_123122 2016-10-10 CSX Railroad Bridge SE Atlanta Decatur East Lake
East Lake Drive has it's own MARTA station and water tower and hey, we're in Decatur.

The tracks follow Dekalb Avenue:


Thanks.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

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.

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