Atlanta, GA

After many uses and tenants in the past 100 years, from a tinsmith’s shop to the home of The Southern Center for Human Rights for the previous three decades, 81 & 83 Poplar Street have undergone a full renovation and now function as a single building and the offices for Smith Dalia Architects. 

The vision for the rehabilitation was primarily one of careful editing:  removing years of unsympathetic and ad hoc alterations to allow the historic character of the buildings to shine through.  Simplicity and restraint were the fundamental design mentality.  On the exterior, the goal was to make as few changes as possible; where changes were required, the intent was to increase faithfulness to the historic features and the character of the district.  The street level storefronts are open and transparent, providing a direct connection between passersby and interior activities and a human connection with the surrounding community.  Interior interventions were limited to strategically located steel portals in the existing load-bearing masonry and white walls with frameless glass.

The new office consolidates a three-story side and a two-story side.  A single stair connects all stories and serves as the vertical link between spaces.  The difference in heights between the two buildings provided the opportunity to create a discreet roof terrace.  The first floor is public, the second floor is studio space, and the third floor and roof are for gathering.

The result is a clean, modern reincarnation of two historic gems that highlights all the best parts of the buildings and the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District.

Photo Credits: Dorian Shy - Framework Photographic
www.frame-work.net
Laura Sherman - SDA