Monday, July 28, 2014

#014 - John Maximuk - Talking Talk that People Speak

First of all, thanks to the staff at Java Vino that allowed John and I to camp out in a corner and record this interview for the cost of a couple of beers.

John Maximuk was named the Director of Decatur’s new Design, Environment & Construction Division in June 2013.  

He brings 20 years of experience as a planner in the Atlanta, Boston, and Washington DC metro areas working in local government, regional planning, and advocacy.  Prior to joining the City of Decatur, John served as Deputy Director of the Livable Communities Coalition of Metro Atlanta.  A career-long urban planner, John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). From 2006 to 2008, John served as the chair of theAmerican Planning Association’s Urban Design and Preservation Division. From 2012 to 2014, John served as vice chair of the American Planning Association’s Divisions Council, an 8,000 member component of the national organization. In every setting, John has been a champion for the role of design in planning and for best practices in local government.

John currently serves on the Boards of the Architecture and Design Center and the Congress for the New Urbanism Atlanta Chapter.

John earned an undergraduate degree in Environmental Geography at Ohio University and a Masters Degree in Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts. 


To reach John, email John.Maximuk@gmail.com




Link


Local Blogs to Follow

Atlanta Urban Events

Monday, July 14, 2014

#013 - Stanley Daniels - Citizen Architect #2

I sat down with Stanley Daniel's at his house to continue a series that began with his partner John Busby. I envision this series as a record of architects whose careers are rooted in the mid 60's. This generation had a tremendous impact on Atlanta's development through not only their practice, but also through their community engagement. In many ways the best of what Atlanta is, both physically and culturally, owes a lot to this generation of citizen architects. In addition to being a founding partner of Jova/Daniels/Busby, Stanley was a leader of, and continues to be engaged with, the American Institute of Architects, and played an important role in founding the Architecture Foundation of Georgia.

As a side note, Stanley's house is a lovely modern little building situated on wooden lot on the edge of Atlanta. Stanley designed the house. Its one of many hoses designed by architects I've visited. The homes of Atlanta architects are a wonderful legacy in and of themselves. Even when they struggled to find clients with modern sensibilities, their homes allowed them to stretch and develop personal modern design approaches. 



Stanley Daniels attended Emory University before graduating from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Architecture. Afterwards he studied in France at the Ecole des Beaux Artes Fontainebleu. He worked for David O. Savini, AIA, and John Portman Associates before founding his own firm with Henri Jova and John Busby. 

Jova/Daniels/Busby (JDB) developed a reputation for strong design and well conceived projects. The firm attracted a large number of significant projects that greatly impacted Atlanta and influenced practice throughout the Southeast, nationally, and international. Major projects include Colony Square, Atlanta City Hall, the Carter Presidential Center, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 


Links
Perhaps the man most responsible for bringing a Modern design approach to Georgia Tech. Heffernan designed several buildings on Georgia Tech's Campus
Ideas developed at this German art school went on to become very influential after many of its teachers were forced to leave Germany.
The most influential school of architecture during the 19th Century. In many ways its influence was supplanted by the Bauhaus 
Founder of the Bauhaus, Gropius latter taught at Harvard's Graduate School of Design (GSD). Many of the schools graduates came to the Southeast to teach and practice.
Influential Atlanta based architect, who employed Stanley Daniel's. Portman was one of the first Architects to play the role of developer and architect on projects. 
Another influential Atlanta based architect who experimented with project delivery methods and service packages who at one time employed Stanley's partner John Busby.
An early John Portman project.
Influenced the JDB's work for Southern Progress (sorry you'll have to Google Southern Progress yourself)
Iconic furniture design and manufacturing company.

Speech at AIA conference influenced profession to become more engaged in civic questions and to work towards greater diversity in the profession.
Civil Rights organization whose efforts in part focused on community and economic development. Whitney Young was President of the organizations from 1961 to 1971.
Partnered with AIA Georgia, AFGA regularly distributes architecture scholarships to deserving students.