Five Atlanta Architects Build Their Own Homes

Five Atlanta residential architects will live their in own designs and I want to know everything.

I'm sorry to tease.  I know the who, the what, and except for one the where. But it's personal. And each architect can leverage the house, the design, and the story, perhaps get published. And publishers want exclusives.

I'll show you the before's: One occupied, one just started, one nearly done, one about 1/4 done, one a mystery.


Torn down. It's on a 1911 Sanborn® Fire Insurance Map but it hasn't had a future for a long time. I've toured the new one. It's a not so big modern that I really like.


I toured this one. It's clever, a 1,175 square footer build from a kit in 1971. It's been stripped of salvageable material awaiting the wrecker. The new one will be a "not so big" modernist but the architect is coy about the specifics.


The big renovation is underway. The is before, built 1925 about 1,700 square feet. It's the most interesting challenge. It had been ruined by home-brewed renovations but its craziness amused me. I'll bet they hollowed it out inside. It will keep this basic shape.


It's nearly done and it still looks like this from the front. I've had a tour. Inside it's spacious and special, bigger than a not so big house but you can't tell from here. Built in 1940.

The mystery house? The folks who know are keeping it secret. I presume they are going whole hog PR / marketing on it. I've heard one detail but they could be teasing me.

Ormewood Gem

My Argentinian modernest friend, Norberto Feal, likes the fellowship hall so I've added a few more pictures of it towards the bottom.

Ormewood is south of I-20, west of Grant Park, east of East Atlanta. "...Aquilla J. Orme approved a plan to extend the trolley line from downtown Atlanta to the Old Soldiers Home on East Confederate." It's modest, quiet, low-key, picturesque. The "e" is silent; pronounce it "orm' wood."



There is a beautiful little church there, Ormewood Park Presbyterian, perfectly in keeping the the neighborhood.



To me the sanctuary's combination of wood and stone is irresistible. It was completed in 1914. I don't know who designed it.



The green doors, brass kick-plates, and chunky pediment make a statement.



The portico comes complete with blue ceiling. I doubt the lantern is original equipment.



The door's pediment pushes it, know what I mean? It holds its ground, balances the pediment, columns and stone.



Delicate windows and indelicate stone make an appealing contrast.



The windows lighten the walls.



There is a slope.



The whole complex is accessible, practical, not precious.



For you modern kids: the 1950 fellowship hall should fill the bill.



Few Atlantan's have even heard of Ormewood Park and fewer still have been there

Maybe you'll find your way over there from Grant Park to see the red Ormewood Avenue Bridge.




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A few for Norberto