Seaside, Florida

Finally, I have seen for myself the Seaside community designed by Duaney, Plater, Zyberk. Though there is a lot of whining from all sectors, this place is wildly successful. For what it is, a beach development that consists of residences, commercial, amenities, school, it seems to do it very well, very conveniently and allows for a pedestrian friendly area. Way finding elements are cool, play off the sun, shading and shadow. The houses are cutesy victorian but not unpleasant. I'm ready to go back and enjoy the cool clear Emerald Coast (when I can afford it, nothing is cheap around here)!

DPZ did some proposals for New Orleans recovery that had a lot of merit but did not get past the drawing boards. Then again, not a whole lot has.
























This is Natchez Pavilion, at the end of our beach house street. The Pavilions at the end of each street at Seaside, mark the edge of the beach and are all different, so you can easily tell where you are from anywhere you can see the pavilion.











I did catch this Corbu influenced pad farther down the beach, which was a nice rest from the victorian era at Seaside.

Concourse D Expansion- Sizeler, Thompson, Brown Architects

This is one of those rare days when something gets accomplished. The project I have been working on for the past 6-7 months, which is an Expansion to Concourse D at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport, is in the hands of the client and ready to go out for bid.

The project consists of six new gates for boarding passenger jets, with all of the seating space, concessions, toilet rooms, back of house, mechanical as required. The project will use industrial size ceiling fans to cool things off while using less energy, skylights will bring in natural daylighting and curves in the ceiling will soften the edge often associated with traveling by plane.
The bidding process will be the next stage of activity and will be exciting!

Lake Vista of New Orleans

This area is a recent fascination of mine. The best planned community I have come across is right here in town. Parks, pedestrian lanes on the shore of Lake Ponchartrain. The rear of houses face the street allowing all homes to face the common green spaces they share.

Location map

Neighborhood Info

One of several parks, that radiate from the center of the subdivision. Homes face the park.

St. Pius Catholic Church, in the center of the subdivision.

The top of the Methodist Church emerges through the trees.

A playset in someone's yard facing the park.

The Methodist Church, also in the center of the subdivision.

A playpost within the central node of churches, light commercial, some multifamily housing.

St. Pius glass.