Elegant Virginia-Highland Design by Pak Heydt

The first time I met Yung Pak I asked him how we could get architects like him to design small(er) houses. He'd obviously thought about it. He told me he'd love to do small houses, he'd work extra hard on them. But the economics rarely favor it.

We're lucky once is a while get one like this.


He said you have to concentrate on prefect proportions rather than elaborate geegaws and luxury materials. I call that elegance.


You should have seen it before. It was from the 20's, a simple box with pleasing proportions fronted by a portico, a Georgian revival entrance. This was high-quality, elegant design, a classy little house.


Pak Heydt reused the portico. Your guests enter through a little temple. See the fan above the door?


The hip roof got a gable too with curvy brackets under the returns.


It makes it's neighbors look better.

Bravo to owners, designers, and craftsmen.

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

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?

Demolition Heartbreaker in Virginia-Highland

I've blogged about it before ("Why waste a great garage on a stupid car?") It's been for sale on and off for a while. It's not everybody's favorite.

I loved the porch roof, the bodacious pink trim, awesome garage/workshop and unequaled location. It's much more than meets the eye.


Here is a closer look.




The owner said folks had offered to buy the porch roof and build him another.


Well, they are rehabbing the house, they tore off the porch, it's now in pieces at the bottom of the dumpster.

I asked the demo guys. They said, "I wish you'd told us, I'd have sold it to you for $20."

I want to cry.

It preserved more of its original "1914" appearance

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.

Mosaics on Highland View in Virginia Highlands

A few blocks from the Barnette Street Mosaic is this wonderful house. New mosaics pop up from time to time. They start at the street and continue to the roof. There are more that I can show in these pictures.

Red Adorondak chairs in Sherwood Forrest.

I love corner houses. They have 2 sides to present to the street. This one is a charmer. It has loads of details but doesn't shout. The red chairs - orangy red I guess - give a nice pop to the white on white.

Reception for Ruth Franklin, Tracy Sharp, & Michael West at Maxwell Gallery

It's going to take me a week to blog last Friday night. I started at "Eclipse" curated by Maxwell Gallery's Mellanie Bugg featuring Ruth Franklin, Tracy Sharp, Michael West at Tracy Sharp's new studio on Highland Avenue.

Being color staved in these days of neutral, Ruth Franklin's dresses caught my eye first.


Here is Melanie Bugg, owner of Maxwell Gallery, with photographer/artist Michael West. Michael's encaustic trees seem to emit their own silver-gold light


Here is Tracy Sharp with her reddish head and a nude. Does the portrait have Tracy's smile? Almost. So few paintings smile these days.


I didn't meet Ruth Franklin but I couldn't resist her colors. They looked good enough to eat.




This yellow-blue-green pushed all my color buttons. I want to see this again in person.


Ms. Franklin must have happy technicolor dreams.


Maxwell Gallery is compact and comfortable.


Each gallery seems to have it's own kind of crowd.


Tracy's dress reflected into the street sign.


I managed a self-portrait. It that a white beret? I thought they were illegal after Labor Day.


There are a few more pictures if you'd like to see them.

Thanks,
Terry

Opening Party for Atlanta's Barnett Street Mosaic by Donna Pinter

Today Ilene Brenner and Donna Pinter hosted an opening for the Mosaic, aka "Symphony of Color" These pictures don't do it justice. Go see it for yourself. It should be at it's peak in mid afternoon after all the leaves are gone. If you click on these pictures you'll go to Flickr and you can make them a little bigger. More pictures.

The Architecture Tourist was fortunate to be there and snapped the M&M guy:


Folks started gathering before the party.


Then Donna gave a tour and answered questions for fans, neighbors, mosaic helpers, and video folks.










Your Architecture Tourists


Here is the video: