Our Position on Community-Centered Schools

From the National Trust: Worth a read not only for saving Historic Schools but what we are also advocating for new construction patterns and principals.

Our Position on Community-Centered Schools

The Squares of Savannah

The Squares of Savannah:

A Survey of Public Spaces

http://www.thesquaresofsavannah.com/

For the past year, we've been working on a book documenting the Savannah Squares. They are such a unique and lauded feature of the city, and much work has been done to study and catalogue their history. However, we found that little had been done to actually document their physical features and why they work urbanistically. This book aims to do just that by analyzing exactly how the squares were designed and what features they have that make Savannah such a wonderful city. This will be a resource for historians, architcts, urban planners, and anyone else who appreciates Savannah.

Carlton Landing

Starting a two day workshop for the Carlton Landing Team and Builders. Tour, Lectures and Roundtable sessions today and tomorrow. http://www.carltonlanding.com/

Beaufort, Habersham and Newpoint are all such great examples to use for new development models and sustainable architecture.

It is so surprising that people travel to Beaufort County from all over the world and US to view its development models but much of what they are coming to see is still really illegal to replicate here in this county even after all these years.

Savannah's Whitfield Square

This is Savannah's Whitfield Square, one of the last Squares, being laid out in 1851. Sitting astride Habersham Street, this is a more residential scale square with the historic fabric being all two story forms. This view looks East on Wayne St.

Unfortunately, the North side of the Square is under siege by failed Modernist Buildings. This lovely six story (ca.1954) gem is vacant and decaying away. It sits next to a carefully restored 19th century simple rowhouse which, while very simple, is far better in its scale and proportion. Funny how only the good stuff gets restored.

Here is the other invader for the North Side of the Square. A wonderful 12 story brutalist tower. This thoughtful architect actually put the service entrance on the corner. Terrible.

Results

This is why we all work so hard to get all the little things right about architecture and urbanism.   When you get it right, people’s lives are enriched which is the reward that we should all be striving for.