When Bernard McCoy was stationed in Italy with the US air force in the 1990s, he was deeply inspired by the culture of design and creative collaboration he witnessed there. Upon returning to his native city of Atlanta, McCoy saw the potential for the city to become a hub for sharing, discussing, and exploring developments within the world of architecture, much like Milan or London.
Thus, in 2007, McCoy launched MA! Architecture Tours, which showcased both commercial and residential buildings. The very first tour was a visit to a contemporary home, drawing in over 100 people. These tours served as a precursor to the Atlanta Design Festival, which McCoy and Elayne DeLeo founded in 2009.
The week-long festival, starting this weekend, has evolved to include creatives from various industries. Alongside tours and exhibitions, the festival now features panel discussions and a theme of “Why Not Now?” to showcase Atlanta’s progressive design in technology, architecture, products, craft, and urban planning. The festival also continues to highlight the evolving architectural styles in the city through residential tours.
One notable residential tour spot is “Juxtaposition,” a restored c1915 house designed by Atlanta architect Neel Reid, located in the historic Druid Hills neighborhood. The restoration project, led by architect Sheila Lee Davies, included modern additions like a glass and zinc pavilion, demonstrating how traditional housing can be updated with contemporary architecture.
Visitors can also explore Lee Davies’s recently completed Cantilever House, which features a cantilevered first floor and takes advantage of surrounding park views. Another highlight is McLendon Avenue Home by Robert M Cain, which incorporates a bridge design to overcome challenges posed by a creek on the site.
For interior and furniture design enthusiasts, the festival will showcase sustainable and repurposed items by Minnesota brand Room & Board, including their Prospect coffee table made from reclaimed wood. Atlanta showroom Illuminations will display the Plusminus lighting system by Stefan Diez for Vibia, which allows for customizable configurations.
The festival’s focus extends beyond architecture and design. In 2018, McCoy commissioned a study similar to the UK’s Design Economy to showcase Atlanta’s design sector’s economic impact. The study revealed that design contributed $39.5 billion to Atlanta’s GDP in 2021. Co-founder Elayne DeLeo believes the festival underscores the significance of creative businesses and individuals in Atlanta who leverage design to solve challenging problems.
The Creative Futures Conference, held in the historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, will feature speakers like Jan Knikker from Dutch architecture firm MVRDV. Knikker will discuss best practices in urban planning and trends in creating sustainable and improved cities and towns. The festival aims to bring together a diverse demographic of attendees, fostering fellowship and creativity across generations.
Don’t miss the Atlanta Design Festival from October 14-22. Follow @FTProperty on X or @ft_houseandhome on Instagram for the latest updates.
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