Sprawlanta — American Makeover Episode 1

Many of the great old neighborhoods we cherish are now illegal to build, according to zoning and land use codes imposed in the last 75 years. While we may not want obnoxious uses next to our homes, our massive municipal regulations go far beyond that and mandate over-accommodation of cars to the extent of excluding and even prohibiting other forms of transport. Some of this resulted from car makers lobbying governments to mandate certain taxes, uses, and configurations that were friendlier to automobiles than to others. This opened up huge sections of land for the middle class, but it distorted markets for transport and for real estate. Now, many recognize the desirability of varied transportation and community configurations but must overcome a regulatory morass to build them. Here's a story of one such development in the middle of Atlanta.





This approach encompasses small towns, mid-sized cities & towns, and the cores of large metropolitan regions. Here is the website of the producers of this short video. They seek funding to continue documenting this trend.
http://www.americanmakeover.tv

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush the Mulberry Bush the Mulberry Bush!

So early in the morning: Perhaps not art, nor culture, per se, but the mulberry is certainly germane to the cultural evolution of the southern US, from the failed colonial silkworm cultivation efforts onward. It grows wild in many a Southern yard, often considered a trash tree and removed, but is a source of delectable fruit and nutritious leaves & stems. I have beaten the birds to a few to my delight.

Movie of San Francisco Trolley run before 1906 Quake

Seven or so minutes of silver screen reminiscence with a melancholy instrumental:
Headed towards the Ferry Building along Market Street. On the eve of their pride, you might say — not long after, San Francisco would be devastated by the infamous 1906 earthquake, killing thousands.

Alternate source: http://www.archive.org/details/TripDown1905

Tip of the hat to Charles Nelson for this.

Industry Inspires Lighting Fixture Designs

For a few decades now, architects and designers have gone to industrial suppliers such as Granger to specify lighting fixtures that had an "industrial" look or feel, often with raw galvanized finishes, mill finishes, exposed connectors and other details seen as "honest" expressions of functionality. With the public's growing appreciation of this appearance, several manufacturers now produce somewhat more polished pieces that utilize many of these components while fitting into residential settings where close proximity of the viewer would otherwise reveal some of the industrial fixtures' rough edges. A recent article in Old House Journal illustrated many of these fixtures and their sources. Adding small details like lighting fixtures is a comparatively low-cost way to re-invigorate a space without massive remodeling. Here are some links to sources (some from OHJ article + mine):
http://www.rejuvenation.com/collections
http://www.countrygearltd.com/
http://www.wilmettelighting.com
http://www.pwvintagelighting.com/
http://www.b4itwascool.com/
http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/
http://getbackinc.com/
http://www.conantmetalandlight.com/

Not just any Lavatory — Read it as a New Form

It could be a holder of ancient liturgical tomes, but no — it's a splash block for a stream, and it won't hold water. Liquid is meant to run off the tilted surface into the slot in the center. Not for every bath but no doubt a delight in the right setting — by Antonio Lupi from 3 Rings.

A gracious Gothic Revival in Brookhaven

English bond brick and elegant drip cap accent entry. We need to see this level of detail in more traditional home designs.

Victorian Homes ideabook on houzz.com

traditional exterior design

I agree with Becky, a landscape architecture grad of UVA who posted these pics, regarding a couple of favorite Victorian era homes in Atlanta. By the way, she does a design blog at

fun Bruce Goff architecture site

Custom Mirror designed for showhouse

Amory Lovins: prophet of efficiency

There was a time when resources were plentiful, and people scarce. Check out this Video:
http://video.popularmechanics.com/services/player/bcpid1213908606?bctid=1233423657

Aspirations of a Southern Housewife: "Frank Lloyd Wright" of Atlanta- Robert Green

Aspirations of a Southern Housewife: "Frank Lloyd Wright" of Atlanta- Robert Green

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Dreams Die Hard - Clusterfuck Nation

Dreams Die Hard - Clusterfuck Nation

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Inhabitat » SOLAR DECATHLON 2009: Cornell Silo House

Inhabitat » SOLAR DECATHLON 2009: Cornell Silo House

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James Wines — Drawing and Architecture —Blueprint Magazine, Sept 30, 2009

James Wines' SITE Incorporated has always added an intriguing surreality to the landscape, from his ghost parking lots to his sidewalks that morph into tunnels. Here he encourages design professionals to return to drawing by hand, a worthy exhortation.