visiting savannah, part two

madison square reception

as mentioned in the last post, the reason for my recent trip down to savannah was a wedding...and an incredible one at that. caroline sims and tucker laffitte tied the knot in the historic trinity methodist church and then led guests through the city to an amazing reception in madison square. with cocktails, passed snacks, and a jazzy blues band, everyone mingled outdoors and enjoyed savannah's charm.
the historic architecture of the homes lining the square was offset by swags of spanish moss and black-tie clad guests, comfortable and at-ease in the coolness of spring. 

photo by katie waites

"the perfect end to the perfect day" by caroline sims

a joint celebration of marriage and nature was not surprising. caroline, the bride, is a painter and has a talent for capturing beauty. "I open my eyes wide," she says. "I breathe and take it all in. There is a specific beauty to each moment and like a book in the wind, the pages keep turning. Great care must be taken to not miss the subtle smile or a child's embrace due to the blowing wind."




see more of caroline's work here.

savannah

after a long week of thesis presentations, etc, i escaped down to savannah, ga for a lovely wedding weekend (more on that tomorrow). it was my first trip to this amazing city, and after all the research done in preparation for ontheporch.info, savannah was the perfect destination. it's more than spanish moss and multi-level porches...there is an essence of mystery and intrigue that hangs in the air. walking along wide avenues that connect the multitude of parks and squares, you can almost feel the history.

one building that demands pause is the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on bull street. it rises tall above the rest of the historic downtown and contrasts with the surrounding, traditional architecture. plus, the bright gold and deeply pigmented blue pop against the white, limestone exterior.

begun in 1912 and completed in 1923, the Scottish Rite Masonic Center mixes neoclassical dominance, art deco attitude, and louis sullivan-esque modernism. it represents the emergence of eclecticism...a cultural characteristic that has evolved to become one of savannah's trademarks.

to read more about materials used and the symbolic representation of the architectural details, click here.

DeMx: vernacular spectacular.

this fayetteville, arkansas architecture firm designs all of their projects with an amazingly simple, yet progressive approach. to them, it's all about context and use. they call it 'vernacular modernism.'

Bakhita Ridge House. Fayetteville, AK.  designed to instigate 
dialogues between old + new, opaque + transparent, axial + diagonal, 
inside + outside, and servant + served. 

read more here.

Bakhita Ridge House: longitudinal section 

Bakhita Ridge House: kitchen/dining 

their philosophy: "Vernacular building types exhibit our most essential responses to the environment. Response to light, air, water, vegetation, materials, and topography are evident through critical analysis of these built forms...contrary to buildings of ‘stature’, vernacular structures age with grace, gaining perceived value and acceptance while becoming a part of the ‘geography’ rather than a reflection of the taste of an era."


the firm was founded by Tim de Noble, an architect and educator, whose main area of study is the typology and morphology of small towns. learn more about de Noble and DeMx here. 

welcome to the porch.

here you will find daily discoveries in the world of southern art and design.  our seasonal magazine, the porch, reports on such topics…but this blog is all about conversation. so let us know what yall think and always send along any relevant information.

this inaugural post was intended to be all about porches (what else?). however, with last wednesday’s tornadoes, it would be remiss to discuss one of the essential elements of southern culture without acknowledging the massive destruction across our beloved region.

if the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the porch, its soul. linking outdoors to in, the family to the community, and giving support to the ubiquitous swing, this architectural feature embodies the culture of the south. it’s comfortable, inviting, nostalgic, and safe. whether it’s a drink with neighbors, dinner with the family, or late-night conversations with the closest of friends, porches enhance the functions of society.

  the tornado that pummeled arab.  from cnn.com.

 see more here and here.

with the widespread loss of countless homes and businesses across the south, it is with deep sadness that i reflect on our iconic architecture. more than demolition of the built environment, however, it is the thousands of personal tragedies that make these storms so horrific. but even in this time of mourning, a spirit of community has overwhelmed the gloom. people helping people, doing whatever needs to be done…feeding, clothing, sheltering, and loving.

neighbors help out with the clean up process in arab, al.

from nytimes.com. read the article here.

my hometown, arab, al, was slammed by the storms. but on saturday night, everyone gathered at the city fire station where the local bbq restaurant had amassed giant grills…cooking all the meat anyone was willing to bring. and since power in arab is still out, there was much that would have otherwise spoiled. the joining together of a community, at this time and in this way, shows that at the end of the day it’s more than just architecture. an airy porch might set the stage, but it’s southern culture that makes the experience memorable. 

every little bit given helps tornado victims rebuild their lives. to donate, go to:

alabama governor’s tornado relief fund
http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/2011%20Tornadoes/Response.aspx

the american red cross

 http://newsroom.redcross.org/category/spring-tornadoes-2011/

the salvation army (designate “april 2011 tornado outbreak”)

https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/donation.jsp