From Our Past to Your Future

By Molly Dickinson

Atlanta’s residential architecture, much like the city itself, represents a dynamic dialogue between the old and new which is constantly being rewritten—or, in this case—redrawn, rebuilt, renovated and reimagined. From Georgian, Federalist and antebellum-inspired houses that speak to our proud Southern history and heritage, to houses that speak in another language altogether (Spanish or British English, perhaps) the city is home to an astounding collection of architectural styles and variations, each with its own unique character and appeal.

Our Atlanta Home Architecture Guide highlights just a few of the common and not-so-common architectural styles you’ll encounter in the search for your Atlanta abode, villa, bungalow, manor, cottage or whatever you wish to call home, as well as where to witness some of the city’s most historic residences and where you can become part of some of Atlanta’s newest neighborhood conversations.

What’s Your Style?

Victorian
Victorian architecture encompasses many sub-styles, from the more simplistic Folk and Stick Victorians to the fanciful, gingerbread-like Eastlake. In Atlanta, however, one particular Victorian style reigns supreme—the regal, yet charming Queen Anne.
The look: Queen Annes are celebrated for their dramatic and complex asymmetrical structures, elongated first-story porches, squared or rounded “towers” (often crowned with ornamental spindles) and decorative, lace-like or scalloped shingling, masonry, brackets, molding and other exterior and interior elements.
The classic: Inman Park, Atlanta’s oldest suburb, and historic Grant Park are known for their beautifully restored 19th-century Queen Anne homes and attending Victorian cottages, and were once home to some of the city’s early elite, including Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler.
The contemporary take: Just off Interstate 85 in nearby McDonough, the Brush Arbor is a community dotted with upscale, Victorian-inspired homes that echo the ornate porches, intricate trim (inside and out), tall, eight-foot-plus doors and sky high 9- to 14-foot ceilings of their queenly ancestors. Perfect for those looking for a little grandeur and a lot of family-friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

American Colonial
Colonial architecture evolved from the European influences of early American settlers who needed to construct practical, sturdy homes from readily available natural materials. Though you may find hints of French or Spanish Colonial styles, Atlanta prefers the symmetrical lines and understated stateliness of the Cape Cod and Georgian Colonial.
The look: Cape Cod homes’ steeply pitched, gabled roofs, shuttered, multi-paned windows, efficient dormers and formal, central-hall floorplans evoke nostalgic New England sensibilities, while the Georgian’s emphasis on an elegant entryway (front doors are often paneled and accented with a decorative overhang and flattened side columns), symmetrical twin chimneys and orderly, multi-windowed facades in wood and brick, hearken back to traditional, Southern-American values.
The classic: Some of Atlanta’s oldest remaining Colonial-style homes can be found in Brookhaven. The city’s first country-club neighborhood preferred the grand but not overly fussy look of the Georgian and its peers, along with the occasional Tudor or English cottage.
The contemporary take: “Cornerstone has always been recognized for its traditional Georgian-style homes,” says E. Vaden Parham, III, project manager for Cornerstone Associates, Inc., whose homes are featured southeast of the city in Heron Bay Golf and Country Club and Westin Park. Halter Properties, One River Place, named for its close proximity to the Chattahoochee River inside the I-285 perimeter, features updated Georgian and Cape Cod homes with wood, brick, stone and mixed-element facades that reflect their natural surroundings.

Neo-Classical
The Greek- and Roman-inspired adornments that epitomize the dreamy beauty of antebellum mansions and plantation estates were also tapped to elevate the humbler Georgian to the Neo-Classical Federalist style, and combined with the climate-conscious elements of the Tidewater, resulting in homes that are both classically appealing and more broadly attainable than their mythic, Southern-belle sisters.
The look: The popular Federalist adds circular, oval or arched windows, a crowned front door topped with a half-moon fanlight, swag and garland details and cornices accented with tooth-like dental moldings to the Georgian’s simple symmetry. Tidewater-inspired homes are rarer sights in the metro area, as their airy, wraparound galleries, low, broad roofs and squared or rectangular shapes are best suited for Southern coastal regions.
The classic: The temple-like Atlanta History Center and the chapel at the University of Georgia bring a touch of Rome closer to home. “Gone with the Wind” author Margaret Mitchell is said to have conjured up the fictional Tara from the historic Stately Oaks Plantation and other antebellum beauties in neighboring Clayton County.
The contemporary take: Jeff Swaney, managing member of GTJ Properties, says their Brush Arbor neighborhood was built in the spirit of historic towns known for Southern neo-classical architecture. Many especially homes in the higher end price ranges are Federalist-inspired. Tributary, another Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) boasts pre-1940’s-styled homes accented with columns, arched doors and windows and gallery-like porches—including several with a Tidewater feel.

Craftsman
Also called “Arts and Crafts,” this movement’s classic 1920s pedestrian practicality and emphasis on hand craftsmanship and natural materials swept east from California in the 1980s to become one of Atlanta’s most elegantly economical and perennially popular home styles.
The look: The Craftsman bungalow is probably the most recognized, as its low structural profile, open layout and efficient built-ins perfectly compliment archetypal Craftsman features like contrasting wainscoting and molding, exposed rafters, wide, bracketed eaves, heavy squared, rounded or tapered porch columns and wood, stacked stone, stucco and mixed material compositions.
The classic: Wander eastward through the older neighborhoods near East Atlanta, Oakhurst, Candler Park, Kirkwood or Ormewood to see authentic Craftsmans rubbing elbows with everything from historic Victorians, Tudors and Neo-classical styles to new construction.
The contemporary take: Brock Built CEO Steve Brock says his company’s homes in northwest and east Atlanta are the new original in Craftsman styling. One of the first developers to bring the trend to the city 12 to 13 years ago, Brock explains “Our current Craftsman homes have the big front porch, they have that bungalow feel, but through a modern application and interpretation of the style, we’ve made them bigger and more enhanced than the original concept.” Enhancements include Brock Built’s award-winning commitment to EarthCraft certified green building standards in every home.

Neo-Mediterranean
Considering that the Mediterranean Sea borders the likes of Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco, it’s no wonder “Neo-Mediterranean” goes by various names and tends to favor a hodgepodge of multicultural design elements, rather than a strict interpretation of a single region’s architecture.
The look: Whether you call it Spanish Eclectic, Moorish Revival or Moroccan-Inspired, details like stucco, barrel-tile roofs, archways, parapets, spiral columns, carved wood doors and patterned or natural stone tile on floors, courtyards and decorative walls are meant to bring the exotic beauty of the Mediterranean to your doorstep.
The classic: Vintage examples of Neo-Mediterranean architecture in Atlanta are rarities, but the Alhambra, built in 1927 and newly renovated as condominiums, offers one illustration of Moorish Revival. What about The Fabulous Fox Theatre, you say? Close, but Atlanta’s beloved performing arts palace is actually a fantasic conglomeration of more Neo-Islamic, Neo-Middle Eastern and Egyptian-inspired styles.
The contemporary take: Cornerstone Associates has expanded into the Neo-Mediterranean market with subtly Spanish-inspired to more obviously Old-Worldly homes in Heron Bay and Westin Park. For a truly transportive experience, Tuscany Hills, tucked away 20 minutes south of Atlanta on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, offers authentic, villa- and vineyard-inspired custom homes. According to Robert Sherman, the development’s managing partner along with Frank Koretsky, “The uniqueness of the design is inspired by the long-range river and mountain views with acre lots that allow for architectural freedom.”