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Peachtree
Environmental Plaza
[
Atlanta, Georgia ]
A mixed use development of 1 Million SF office
space, 180,000 SF of retail and 80 Condominiums in a prime
downtown location. The site is approximately 2 city blocks
in size and is bound by Baker Street on south, Forrest Avenue
on north, West Peachtree on east and Spring street on west.
The design concept is to create a pedestrian friendly mall
with landscaping, street furniture and kiosks at the existing
Peachtree level and two way vehicular traffic below the pedestrian
mall.
A three storey building block adjoins the pedestrian mall
for a better relationship to the human scale and tall office
building and condominium block are set back from the street
level. The massing of the tall block suggests the change of
axis of Peachtree Street at this point. North and South light
is used for office spaces to reduce energy costs without sacrificing
the prime office space with windows.
The building is divided into a series of interior courtyards
covered with skylights serving as a huge covered public ‘Living
Room’. The users of this center entering from any point
are drawn to these courts because of curiosity, visual stimulation
and excitement generated through it. These courts become the
‘Home Base’ for exploring the rest of the building,
interweaving shopping errands with an opportunity for work,
amusement, rest, refreshment and social interaction.
Interior court one gives spatial and visual variety and exhilaration.
Space lost on the ground is recaptured in the form of stepping
terrace gardens. Thus it brings nature close to the working
stations. In addition to acting as a visual stimuli it admits
light and sun through a skylight above. The use of Pilotis
contributes to the free flow of space from one court to another.
Urban Design elements such as sculptures, variety of fountains,
seats and graphics direct the observer’s movement.
Interior court two has an amphitheater with a seating capacity
of 300 and connects to court one and three. This court is
made additionally interesting through the changes in ceiling
height, lighting intensities, fountains and pools connecting
various levels. The use of amphitheater includes merchandise
promotion such as Fashion shows and customer entertainment,
either live or on film. Neighborhood little theater productions,
a puppet show, filming of a television program and use by
various civic and community groups are all possibilities.
Whatever, the activity, it is felt that the amphitheater plays
an important role in contributing to the excitement and abundance
of activity choices.
*Principal Architect: Jit Virdi, AIA.
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