What's happening with the Wheelhouse?

[Beach Runner]

it seems to be primarily concerned with traffic issues, placement of buildings on lots; and parking lots; along with neighborhood compatibility...like no restaurants/bars in the middle of a residential area etc. (However this could be argued in more than one case).

My assessment may not be totally correct--I am only speaking from the experience of attending some of the meetings. I've never seen a scope of work for that Board. Here is a link to the minutes of a meeting FYI. http://www.co.walton.fl.us/archives/42/04012010 DRB Minutes.pdfand the one about Walmart:http://www.co.walton.fl.us/archives/42/01072010 DRB Minutes.pdf

I have been to plenty of those meetings myself. Personally if I were the people who spent two years renovating the beachfront home at the intersection of 30A and 395, I'd be pretty upset about the totally incompatible architecture going up across the street. But that's none of my business.

My point is that this is SoWal, not SoBe.The funky Seagrove Market Cafe was an asset at that intersection because it was compatible with the neighborhood.

 

[scooterbug44]

Architecture is very subjective - personally I hate it when all the houses are the same style, color, etc.

I like more variety - think it ages better and gives a better end result.

 

[DuneAHH]

Architecture is very subjective - personally I hate it when all the houses are the same style, color, etc.

I like more variety - think it ages better and gives a better end result.

I acknowledge your point and honor your position.

For me there are certain adjacencies that never seem to live comfortably together. For example, I don't think I'll ever be able to embrace the jarring note of
IM Pei's glass pyramid plopped in front of the Louvre. Or a morton building garage addition on a classic antebellum southern mansion.

 

[scooterbug44]

Additions definitely should match/blend/work with the existing, though I go back and forth on how I feel about the Louvre Pyramid.

Just saying I'd rather have well done variety than poorly done same ol'. There are some great modern houses on 30-A and some truly HORRIBLE "beachy" houses. (Jury is still out on where Viridian will fall on the cool vs. horrid scale.)

 

[Lake View Too]

Additions definitely should match/blend/work with the existing, though I go back and forth on how I feel about the Louvre Pyramid.

Just saying I'd rather have well done variety than poorly done same ol'. There are some great modern houses on 30-A and some truly HORRIBLE "beachy" houses. (Jury is still out on where Viridian will fall on the cool vs. horrid scale.)

I, at first, was hoping the new structure going up on that site would be "old timey", with lots of brick and maybe a New Orleans style (perhaps Baytowne-like). But I think the style they are going for will be a refreshing change from that period. Most of Florida really isn't as old as New Orleans, anyway, so to get nostalgic around here means basically to go back to the art deco of South Beach. I think that's what they are going for.

 

[DuneAHH]

I, at first, was hoping the new structure going up on that site would be "old timey", with lots of brick and maybe a New Orleans style (perhaps Baytowne-like). But I think the style they are going for will be a refreshing change from that period. Most of Florida really isn't as old as New Orleans, anyway, so to get nostalgic around here means basically to go back to the art deco of South Beach. I think that's what they are going for.

THAT could be charming AND cool. I think Watercolor Inn architecture successfully achieved new & modern while blending very well with the overall community surroundings.

The Viridean renderings posted several years ago looked like they were going for uber contemporary ala Dallas' glass city skyscrapers.

JMPO... but that seems uber jarring with the surroundings and NOT charming. It is my hope that the arch. design got ramped down a bit.

 

[kitlit]

http://hotelviridian.com

 

[GoodWitch58]

http://hotelviridian.com

I'm still feeling sad about the loss of the trees....

 

[scooterbug44]

I'm still feeling sad about the loss of the trees....

Ditto - I'm going to be in trouble the next time Mama Scooterbug visits because I haven't told her yet - those were her favorite trees. She loved how they were shaped by the wind off the Gulf.

 

[DuneAHH]

http://hotelviridian.com

BettySue's Gr'father and Father were prominent South Beach art deco architects. The response to these sketches was "it's reeeally stretching it" to say that this has much to do with South Beach art deco architecture.