AWESOME & AWFUL - Marriott Marquis Atlanta

BOTH: The Marriott Marquis Atlanta has a lot of positive things going for it - absolutely non of them at ground level. Three sides of this block sized development are simply as inhospitable as one can make a blank wall of concrete. I even had a hard time finding the egress on the east side (facing the Hyatt) and only  stumbled upon it by accident.

So, on the AWFUL scale this hotel provides 3 block faces with 2 - 3 stories (depending on the elevation) of blank concrete and a total disconnect from any pedestrian realm. It was so bad I didn't even bother taking any pictures. Add to this the multiple skybridges and lack of obvious ways to find the street, and you have the usual Brutalism era hatred of the ground level, save access for automobiles and trucks.

The auto entry itself is pretty cool (see pic just below) but even this space is a bit oppressive for the average pedestrian.

Now, on the AWESOME side of the equation, we consider the soaring interior spaces the architect created... One cannot help but be impressed with the volume, the tapering balconies and the glass roof, 48 stories above. 1663 rooms and suites ensure a population guaranteed to fill the cantilevered Pulse Loft bar and the sail-like Pulse lobby bar. It obvious the interior decor has been tastefully and expensively updated in the recent past. If only the architect and the planners involved had given the same love to the ground level surrounding the hotel, this building would be long regarded as one of the best in Atlanta.

Sadly, the era in which this was constructed dictated that it was not to be so.

More photos on their website.

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AWESOME: David Williams, Painter

One of my favorite artists is David Williams of St. Petersburg. David recycles commercial and graphic images from the past and present to create a whole new dialogue with the world today. His website shows a variety of work from current and past shows. The one thing you cannot appreciate online are the wonderful surface textures he includes in every work. And he just keeps getting better with each new set of work.

© 2006 David Williams 48" x 60" Sirens:Bahama Shores Drive, acrylic on canvas.

Remember, buy art because it moves you, and if it clashes with the couch, get a new couch.

AWFUL: The Horrors of the Atlanta Merchandise Mart

AWFUL: The Atlanta Merchandise Mart is 3 blocks of consumerism and serves boutiques and retailers across the region... that said, the buildings it occupies are pretty ugly and do nothing to serve the city in which they landed. Oh, and what about a window or two?

The ground level of all 3 blocks has nothing but blank walls and a few sad trees. The skybridges keep the buyers and sellers out of the city entirely. It seems there are 8 or 9 blocks interconnected in such a way as to connect at least 3 hotels to the Mart and once inside, its not very easy to find a way to get to the street level - kinda like not being able to find a way out of a casino in Vegas.

I do have to say that I like the RoboCop style round staircases on the corner, and the building is, in spite of its shortcomings, a bit of modern sculpture that typifies its era in a strong way. Its a great thing to learn from and never repeat.

AWESOME: The view from the 72nd Floor of the Westin Peachtree in Atlanta

Looking West - L to R: Georgia Dome, CNN Center, Georgia World Congress Center and Olympic Centennial Park. Georgia Aquarium sneaking in at top right. Bottom left is the Tabernacle - a fantastic old chruch turned civic auditorium. Notice all the surface parking lot space - what a waste of land.

Looking North - The W Hotel seems to be the terminus of 75/85 as it comes into downtown from the North. I like the cantilevered pool halfway up the right tower.

Looking ENE: An economy of architectural effort and creativity - 6 towers almost exactly the same, and every one a horror for the pedestrian. The two at the Marriott Marquis were better at ground level due to the hotel entry between them - the others shield a mall from passers by - yes, Peachtree Center is on the 2nd floor and is primarily accessible to office tower workers through sky bridges. The city is excluded as much as possible from this hermetically sealed environment. Awful streetscapes.

I keep meaning to go into the Hyatt and go up in that little spaceship bar that landed on top but I never do. Note that through the sky bridges, you can go from the Hilton at top right all the way to Centennial Park without ever touching a sidewalk. Great way to kill your downtown.

AWESOME: Andres Duany at The Congress of the New Urbanism CNU18

So, I got the opportunity to see architect and New Urbanism prophet Andres Duany speak on a number of occasions at the Congress. Andres is a highly charismatic guy - one could actually term him messianic when it comes to the message of Urbanism. The creator of Seaside was far more approachable and likable than I expected. Much is made of the egos of architects, but in his case I'd discount that from 'ego' to 'clarity of vision'.

Duany is, in spite of his renown and his position as the leading light of the Urbanist movement* is - and most will disagree - a humble guy.

What? How is that possible?

Simple: He is so absolutely sure of his vision, the goals and the product itself, that - while he is delivering the message in a way no one else can - he does so on service of the message itself. Sure, he is the center of attention, and sure, he is the architect... but its not about him, its about a better way to live. Hence, I adjudge him as 'humble' as compared to most other architects.

*Seriously. I never use the word 'movement' outside of discussing digestive issues because it smacks of stoner hippies whining about some idiotic claptrap, but in this case - it actually makes sense and makes me smile.

AWESOME: Complete Streets

While at CNU18, the phrase 'complete streets' kept wandering into the conversation. Somehow I missed that couplet along the way, all the while having been a fan of the ideas inherent in the concept. No idea how that happened...

There is a great FAQ on the Complete Streets Coalition's website for those who'd like to review the concepts involved. The main key to to realize that we need 'streets' not 'roads' in our cities. Streets serve people first and cars second. Roads serve cars exclusively. Roads exist to get people from one point of civilization to another, but tend to destroy that civilization when they run through it.

Below is a pic from the Complete Streets Flickr feed - notice: 2 lanes, center shared turn lane that allows through traffic to move freely, bike lanes, on street parking offers traffic calming and a shield for pedestrians, urban trees as appropriate. This can move as much traffic as a 4 lane road with no center turn lane, and do it in a safer manner for all. Added benefit: Increased property values benefit neighborhoods and the city's ad valorem base.

AWESOME: Record Stores in Atlanta/Little 5 Points

AWESOME: Its been quite some time since I was in Atlanta, and it was quite gratifying to see that Wax N Facts is still there doing its thing in Little Five Points. In fact, with the resurgence in VINYL the place had very few CDs and was mostly albums and 12"s. While I was browsing the old bins, I noticed the crates had such names as Peaches and Sound Warehouse on the ends... nice retro touch there. People were actually coming in asking about new releases and whether they would be on vinyl, Double awesome.

Around the corner on Euclid is a SECOND record store called Criminal Records. This one is a bit more glossy and full of indie rock, kitch, dunnys and the like - but the fact that TWO record stores are thriving within a block of each other is really gratifying. I noticed 180 gram re-issues of vinyl I bought 25 years ago (DEVO baby!) for 17.99 and up. Of course, since I have the original sleeve and inserts mine is cooler - the one advantage of being old I suppose.

Little 5 Points has changed little in the last decade or two. Eat Your Vegetables is gone, Throb is gone, but those are the only two businesses that seem to have really disappeared. Junkman's Daughter is still selling stuff for very cute girls and the package store seems to have the same two broke down winos in the parking lot. Abba Dabba's is still rocking the Doc Martens and other specialty shoe labels, and seems to have grown. I used to visit Atlanta a lot in the 80s and early 90s, and its nice to see that, while some thaings have changed, most of the best stuff is still around.