What can we do to make the city more unique? (architecture, building)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by bu2

How about simply making a long linear park along Peachtree Creek. Its pretty dismal from I-85 to where it crosses Piedmont.

I could get SO behind this.


I mean, if nothing else, it would provide a pretty decent buffer to helping keep the waterway clean, and make it easier to get in and do clean-up / restoration.


It's only ~7.5 miles of creek until you hit the fork, maybe half of which is either already in parkland, or is in the BeltLine right of way.


This is a totally doable thing.

[Hokiehaven]

Originally Posted by bu2

Why big? How about a lot of public art sculptures along the Beltline? They have rotating ones in Candler Park. And some could symbolize the history of places along the Beltline.

Beltline is already doing some of that with public art, abstract art. While that's good, big tends to get noticed and be more defining of a city on the whole, which is why a building or massive sculpture would be more definitive of uniqueness.

Personally think, capping major portions of the connector could go a long way into making ATL unique and then on top of it utilizing the public park space with sculpture gardens, or art would be big.

[Ant131531]

You can't simply make a city more unique. It has to come organically. The only way something becomes unique is if it organically became that way. New York or NOLA in 1850 didn't ask themselves how do we become more unique...they simply continued to build the city as the demand to live in the city rose, then the civic features of the city made the city more unique as time passed.

But if you really want to make Atlanta unique or worth visiting over other cities, find a developer or philanthropist who's willing to put forth money to build something that's extremely uncommon, like a museum made of pure glass that looks like a palace.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

You can't simply make a city more unique. It has to come organically. The only way something becomes unique is if it organically became that way. New York or NOLA in 1850 didn't ask themselves how do we become more unique...they simply continued to build the city as the demand to live in the city rose, then the civic features of the city made the city more unique as time passed.

But if you really want to make Atlanta unique or worth visiting over other cities, find a developer or philanthropist who's willing to put forth money to build something that's extremely uncommon, like a museum made of pure glass that looks like a palace.

That's exactly what I've been saying...I think Atlanta is plenty unique in many ways (a long list of things), but I think what some people are pushing for is something iconic and instantly recognizable on the skyline - and that has to happen naturally. To me the most recognizable skyline feature is the Westin Peachtree and the many spires and crowns. If we are to have something iconic featured on our skyline it will happen over time.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by Fubarbundy

Even though it could end up being problematic for event control, having an annual get-together of some sort that was completely unlike anything anywhere else, could add to the uniqueness of Atlanta?

Instead of, or as well as, an odd looking architectural monstrosity.

This comment made me laugh and I agree about avoiding an odd looking architectural monstrosity.

Originally Posted by cqholt

I do think the Westin Peachtree or the Coca-Cola sign is Atlanta's icon, since there is only 1 other Portman design, circular 70 story tower in the world and it is not the Westin.

I'm not really feeling the Westin Peachtree, but something Coca-Cola related is a good idea. Mentioning the Westin "Peachtree", I still think planting some would not be the worst idea.

[No2Monsanto]

Yeah. Less big box chains, and more authentic boutique stores and restaurants. It's called character. If I see yet ANOTHER shopping center with TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, Michaels, a nail shop, Chinese food, a yogurt joint, Target, Ulta, Home Goods, or fake New York pizza I'm gonna DIE.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by No2Monsanto

Yeah. Less big box chains, and more authentic boutique stores and restaurants. It's called character. If I see yet ANOTHER shopping center with TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, Michaels, a nail shop, Chinese food, a yogurt joint, Target, Ulta, Home Goods, or fake New York pizza I'm gonna DIE.

A good, successful community has a balanced mix of local, regional, and national chains.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by No2Monsanto

Yeah. Less big box chains, and more authentic boutique stores and restaurants. It's called character. If I see yet ANOTHER shopping center with TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, Michaels, a nail shop, Chinese food, a yogurt joint, Target, Ulta, Home Goods, or fake New York pizza I'm gonna DIE.

See the thread on Keane's reorganization and the difficulty of getting permits. Atlanta's bureaucracy makes it very difficult to do business unless you have deep pockets or deep connections. There was an AJC article at the time Reed took office that said that a permit that took 3 weeks on average in Cobb County took 42 weeks in the city of Atlanta.

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I do think the Westin Peachtree or the Coca-Cola sign is Atlanta's icon, since there is only 1 other Portman design, circular 70 story tower in the world and it is not the Westin.

I don't think average person recognize building like that unless it's the really famous ones like Empire State or Sears Tower "Yes I know" or they are really similar with that city.

People tend to recognize symbols like Statues, Fountains, Observation towers, Clock towers, even Churches more.

The Fountain of Rings been on Several TV shows and Films. That is something that could grow to be Ironic especially if more attractions keep bringing people to that area.

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

You can't simply make a city more unique. It has to come organically. The only way something becomes unique is if it organically became that way. New York or NOLA in 1850 didn't ask themselves how do we become more unique...they simply continued to build the city as the demand to live in the city rose, then the civic features of the city made the city more unique as time passed.

But if you really want to make Atlanta unique or worth visiting over other cities, find a developer or philanthropist who's willing to put forth money to build something that's extremely uncommon, like a museum made of pure glass that looks like a palace.

They was trying to develop things to make a impression,

So technically they was, they was building "hoping" one day with time it will be consider great. Whether or not a building or structure will be consider unique or ironic is a different story but that is the goal. Architecture is a art, and as a art the goal was to make a impression.