Publications and Preservation

I’m a fan of a number of online and hardcopy publications, especially those that celebrate a particular region of the country. I bet you can’t guess which area? Why, yes, the SOUTH!

My long-time blog friends are well aware of my adoration of Garden & Gun. So, I was thrilled to read a wonderful entry about G&G in the New York Social Diary. Writer Ned Brown made a visit to the hunting plantation and lodge, Rochelle, in the Lowcountry region, to do a story about G&G founding editor John Wilson. Rochelle is a feast for the eyes, to say the least.

Rochelle Hunting Lodge in South Carolina

I love the fact that Brown calls G&G “one of the finest lifestyle and best constructed magazines I know of.” So, once again, if you have yet to have a G&G experience, GO BUY THE MAGAZINE NOW. (Seriously, I should be on their payroll for all of the subscribers I’ve sent their way.)

Guests mingle around the fire pit at Rochelle Plantation during a fundrasier for the American College of the Building Arts

Wilson recently launched a new digital magazine called Charleston The Manual, which is a user’s guide for anyone planning a trip to that fair city or for residents looking for the latest happenings in that region. Wilson has a knack for the creative.

During Brown’s visit with Wilson, a party was held at Rochelle to benefit the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston. I had never heard of this school, but as I learned more about it, I found it has a fascinating curriculum and purpose. Having only achieved licensure in 2004, ACBA is a young college that works diligently to preserve the old. The school's website states:

The American College of the Building Arts educates and trains artisans in the traditional building arts to foster exceptional craftsmanship and encourage the preservation, enrichment, and understanding of the world's architectural heritage through a liberal arts education.

What a wonderful mission. I have a strong interest in architecture and the preservation of important structures, although I'm only a novice on the topic. I can tell you, though, that my hometown of Louisville, Ky. has the second-largest assembly of cast-iron buildings in the United States (New York City has the most), and I’m fortunate enough to travel by several of them on my way to work each morning. I’ve seen some of these structures fall into disrepair and in a couple of instances, literally crumble to the ground.

That’s why I think a school like ACBA is a valuable institution and its graduates will make significant contributions to architecture in this country, and perhaps around the world.

Stop by New York Social Diary to read a recap of Brown's visit and delight in photos from the gathering. And if you are a lover of architecture, take comfort in knowing that a school like ACBA exists.
Images from New York Social Diary and the American College of the Building Arts

Southern Architecture

I love older homes with architectural character, especially those with southern roots. Whether it’s a painted-brick and black-shuttered house in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood, an antebellum manse in Natchez or a low-country tin-roof cottage in Savannah, these houses just call to me. There’s nothing more appealing than the thought of sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of one of these houses with a cool drink in your hand. Heaven, simply heaven.

So, for anyone who shares my love of southern dwellings, I recommend a couple of books.

In Kentucky, a well-known, Louisville-born architect named Stratton Hammon made a name for himself designing architectural jewels across the Commonwealth. From cottages to grand dames, these homes are pieces of art. Many are scattered about Louisville, in some of the older, tree-lined neighborhoods, such as Seneca Gardens, the Upland/Top Hill Road area and Cherokee Gardens. A book about his work, Kentucky Homes of Stratton Hammon, was published last year and features the amazing work he created during his time (he died in 1997).

A contemporary of Hammon’s whom I greatly admire is Timothy Winters. I’ve always said that if I win the lottery, Mr. Winters will design my home. He has a wonderful knack for capturing the beauty and character of older Louisville homes in a newly built design. He’s very much of the “new-old-house” school of thought.

If you love the residential architecture of Louisiana, check out The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town. Town, considered by many as the “premiere architect of the South,” died in 2005 at the age of 101. His designs are said to have inspired many southern architects over the years, leaving quite a legacy. His work, and the aforementioned book, are featured in the latest issue of Southern Living.

I am by no means an expert on architecture; I just love to pour over architectural and design books and dream. So, I would love to hear from readers on the types of architecture where you live, notable designers, etc.
Images courtesy of Butler Books and Amazon.