Hosted by the ICAA Southeast Chapter
Please join ICAA Southeast and architectural designer Nathan Thomas, recipient of the 2023 Kyle D. Taylor Memorial Fellowship for Architectural Studies, as he presents his study of Emerging America: Architecture of the early 19th century Southeast.
As the newly formed American republic grew in confidence, so too began a shift towards a new architectural expression. While based initially on primarily European models, the lens of climate, geography, and economy led early builders to create their own interpretations suited to local needs and abilities. Practical hard-won knowledge coupled with unending enthusiasm for the classical language transformed these imported ideas into a tradition distinct to its place, enduring patterns of building that continue to inform how we design today.
Honing into this early period of adaptation and evolution that forms the southern tradition, this research will delve into how master builders and craftsmen adapted the classical language into regional patterns that distinguish one area from another. The emergence of the Federal style and its transformation into the robustness of the Greek Revival is the selected point of focus, fueled by the increasing availability of pattern books and rapid expansion across the south during the early decades of the 19th century.
Connecting this thread of classicism across different regions of the southeast, this study sought to uncover the subtleties each setting carries, and why they form our image of that place. In a building culture that is becoming increasingly homogeneous, understanding the spirit of a place grounds the design process: creating a strong foundation for designing in a manner that is sympathetic to a setting and community.
Through a series of sketches, measured drawings, and photography, I will investigate the manipulation of the classical language from the high style to the vernacular by region. Crafting a logic across these various resolutions and scales will allow me to build an architectural vocabulary that can be used to integrate a new building seamlessly into its surroundings, taking advantage of historic solutions to solve problems we continue to face today.
This lecture is given as a requirement in satisfaction of the Kyle D. Taylor Memorial Fellowship for Architectural Studies.
A reception will follow in the amphitheater adjacent to the Education Building.
The Little Chapel at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church is located in the Church School Building, that is adjacent to the main Sanctuary building, 1660 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA 30307. Please enter through the double doors that face North Decatur Road.
Free parking is available in the Fishburne Parking Deck Enter the deck off of Fishburne Drive. Take the pedestrian exit near North Decatur Road, turn right and the Church School Building and Little Chapel with be the first building on your right.
This event is hosted by an ICAA Chapter. Please check the Chapter website or contact the Chapter directly for the most up-to-date details including dates, times, and pricing.