Urban design excellence is rewarded

If walls could talk, the 14 structures receiving Awards of Excellence from the Urban Design Commission next week would have lots of stories to tell.

The winning designs range from fountains to private homes and new construction to historic preservation projects. This year, a single award goes to two Inman Park homes that were ravaged by fire in October 2007. When Adam Stillman, an architect and owner of the house at 350 Sinclair Ave. arrived on the scene, he could only ask the fireman, “What should I do?”

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Photos by Kent D. Johnson/kdjohnson@ajc.com

The Historic Oakland Foundation spent tens of thousands of dollars to restore and move the 1913 statue ‘Out in the Rain.’ The fountain originally cost $101, but had fallen into disrepair.

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This year, a single award goes to two Inman Park homes that were ravaged by fire in October 2007. When Adam Stillman, an architect and owner of the house at 350 Sinclair Avenue, arrived on the scene, he could only ask the fireman, ‘What should I do?’

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When the homes at 346 and 350 Sinclair Ave. were damaged by fire in 2007, Adam Stillman, an architect and owner of 350 Sinclair saw an opportunity to retain the look of the homes while updating the interiors.

Private Quarters featuring a partner of the award-winning Rutledge Alcock Architects

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What he did, one year later, was build two homes that retained the large glass doors, wide front porches and exposed rafters typical of the Craftsman-style homes in the neighborhood, while adding modern amenities such as open floor plans, roof decks with skyline views and a master bath with Jacuzzi tub.

At the other end of the spectrum is the “Out in the Rain” fountain from the Historic Oakland Foundation. Initially built in 1913, the fountain had fallen into disrepair, said Kevin Kuharic, director of restoration and landscapes. A 1980s renovation that made the fountain larger proved ill-planned when cars navigating the intersection would constantly hit the fountain’s edge.

Using information from 1913 annual reports, they rebuilt the fountain in the same stucco and brick materials of the past. It had to move six feet, Kuharic said, but a circle of cobblestones sits at the original site with a bronze plaque explaining the relocation. The city paid $101 in 1913 for the fountain, which has since cost tens of thousands of dollars to renovate, Kuharic said.

But it’s worth it.

“It’s nice to have it in its best condition since 1913,” he said.

2009 winners (by category):

• Contextural In-fill
• 194 Howard Street house, 194 Howard St. Firm: Rutledge Alcock Architects
• Heller residence, 1005 Williams Mill Road. Firm: Justin and Erika Heller (homeowners), Stephen Gray (general contractor), Brent Drone (designer)
• Sinclair Avenue in-fill, 346 and 350 Sinclair Ave. Firm: Adam Stillman Residential Design, LLC
• Historic preservation

135 Auburn Avenue façade, 135 Auburn Ave. Firm: Menefee and Winer Architects

• Brown Monument, 248 Oakland Ave. Firm: Historic Oakland Foundation
• Karen Huebner, 81 17th St., No. 4
• Ivy Hall — Edwards C. Peters house, 179 Ponce de Leon Ave. Firm: SCAD and Surber Barber Choate and Hertlein
• Architects
• Tom Aderhold and Aderhold Properties Inc., 170 Boulevard Ave. S.E. Firm: Aderhold Properties Inc.
• Troy Peerless lofts, 650 Glen Iris Drive. Firm: Rutledge Alcock Architects
• Winton residence, 463 Sinclair Ave. Firm: Jones Pierce Architects
• New construction
• Ryan residence, 310 Augusta. Firm: Newell Watkins AIA LEED
• Parks and landscape
• “Out in the Rain” fountain, 248 Oakland Ave. Firm: Historic Oakland Foundation
• Organization
• Kirkwood-Pratt Pullman Yard Substation Coalition, 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. Firm: Roy Ashley and Associates and Mactec
• Engineering
• Georgia State University Heritage Preservation Program, Georgia State University. Firm: Georgia State University Heritage Preservation Program