1970s "Contemporary" Homes - Love? Hate? Live in One? (Atlanta: 2014, apartment)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by readyset

Oh why oh why did they build these things! Ranchers, split-levels, sheds etc. The 50-70s had to be the worst time periods in architectural history. I cant wait for the day we start tearing them down en masse, just like they tore down those architectural gems from the 1800s and early 1900s.

No.

I like ranches, split-levels, and contemporaries.

I think there are architectural gems from all eras.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I think they are very cool on the inside.

But heniously ugly on the outside.

No.

I think they are pretty cool from the inside and outside.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by oldschoolChevy

There are a lot of houses like that in Stone Mountain, my aunt's house off Redan Rd looks very similar to that one that was posted in East Cobb.

A lot of the Stone Mountain/Redan Area developed at the same time as a lot of East Cobb.


Hidden Hills (in Stone Mountain/Redan), for example, is the sister neighborhood of Indian Hills (in East Cobb).


Take a drive through both and you will see (except that Hidden Hills' country club is no more ).

[BobWallace]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Here are some nice all (or nearly all) contemporary-style neighborhoods in tony East Cobb (take a tour of them sometime, y'all, and see for yourself!):

Another one for the list is River Springs. This has to be one of the best real estate bargains in Atlanta if you can tolerate the cedar contemporary style. Decent sized houses on nice lots in the .4-.5 acre range, Sope Creek/Dickerson/Walton in the $200's!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by BobWallace

Another one for the list is River Springs. This has to be one of the best real estate bargains in Atlanta if you can tolerate the cedar contemporary style. Decent sized houses on nice lots in the .4-.5 acre range, Sope Creek/Dickerson/Walton in the $200's!

Yep! Which road is River Springs off of? Is it near King's Cove?

[Saintmarks]

Great thread, late to the party again. Once again blown away by Aries' complete authority of knowledge on the subject.

I have had a love/hate for this style of home myself, know all of these neighborhoods. Loch Highland is the nadir for sure. However other subdivisions that came along later tried to mimic the style on a cheaper level. To me, what makes it work is the quality of materials used. Thin cedar siding with bad knot holes that faded to gray with no staining is just plain ugly. Later 80s models that did a "faux" contemporary, basically a split level with an odd wall jutting up and 45 degreed cheap siding and cheap metal windows hurt the style and was part of the backlash to a more traditional style. Keep in mind that the 80s was the era of political conservative resurgence (think Reagan) and styles sort of followed suit to a more conservative design.

Would like to see some pictures of how different people have updated these. I remember a few getting vinyl siding and taking the weird angles out of the cedar. Helped and hurt at the same time, IMO.

But the interior room you get in these homes, the lot size, the price compared to more conservative styles, one shouldn't shun them just because they are different.

[BobWallace]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Yep! Which road is River Springs off of? Is it near King's Cove?

Not far from King's Cove - it's on the other side of Johnson Ferry behind the Parkaire Shopping Center. It's off of Lower Roswell Rd. The "main drag" of the neighborhood is Bayliss Dr.

Of course King's Cove is another one of those with contemporaries mixed in with other styles.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by BobWallace

Not far from King's Cove - it's on the other side of Johnson Ferry behind the Parkaire Shopping Center. It's off of Lower Roswell Rd. The "main drag" of the neighborhood is Bayliss Dr.

Of course King's Cove is another one of those with contemporaries mixed in with other styles.

Got it. I haven't been down Lower Roswell in a while.

I understand now--it is at the end of Davidson. I've actually been through there before--it is definitely "in the cut." Good location and a well-kept, affordable, spacious East Cobb secret!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Great thread, late to the party again. Once again blown away by Aries' complete authority of knowledge on the subject.

I have had a love/hate for this style of home myself, know all of these neighborhoods. Loch Highland is the nadir for sure. However other subdivisions that came along later tried to mimic the style on a cheaper level. To me, what makes it work is the quality of materials used. Thin cedar siding with bad knot holes that faded to gray with no staining is just plain ugly. Later 80s models that did a "faux" contemporary, basically a split level with an odd wall jutting up and 45 degreed cheap siding and cheap metal windows hurt the style and was part of the backlash to a more traditional style. Keep in mind that the 80s was the era of political conservative resurgence (think Reagan) and styles sort of followed suit to a more conservative design.

Would like to see some pictures of how different people have updated these. I remember a few getting vinyl siding and taking the weird angles out of the cedar. Helped and hurt at the same time, IMO.

But the interior room you get in these homes, the lot size, the price compared to more conservative styles, one shouldn't shun them just because they are different.

Yep, there was definitely a difference in quality between contemporaries built in the 70's versus those built in the early 80's.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by TTummy

We moved from NYC area and specifically looked for a 70's / 80's contemporary.

After a pretty long search all over North Atlanta, we found one we just love in East Cobb. Over 6k square feet, less than $500k, 10 miles / 22 minutes to my office in Buckhead.

Love your house TTummy. Would adore one just like it.