Riverhouse
A community center concept for Mahr Development
Corporation--Apalachicola Fla.
Project Description: Recreation of a classic
ante bellum
home that would function as a community center and restaurant for a planned
future riverfront development.
Background: The structure would be modeled after the widely known
"Oak Alley" estate along
Louisiana's famed River Road (Hwy 18) near Vacherie, La.
Main features of the property are:
---a classic 2 level Greek Rival home built in the southern ante bellum
tradition around 1820. Features typical of the this specific type of home were a
continuous
veranda on both the ground and 2nd levels, 14' ceilings, floor to near ceiling
walk thru windows and elegant slate clad mansard dormer roofs.
---nearly a quarter mile of an awesomely beautiful entry alley of 300 year old
live oak (Quercus Virginia)
---legendary
"kitchen gardens" that were a vital part of everyday life in that era
Design Considerations:
-----ante bellum homes of varying sophistication are not uncommon in
development projects today, particularly for upscale southern estate design.
Their modern day
construction is straight forward and competitive on a square foot basis with
alternate types of construction. Generally built on poured slabs with base walls
of veneered
concrete block, pre engineered timber truss roofs with asphalt shingle finish
and catalog window and door units. The support columns and base/top caps
that are
designs hallmarks now come in paintable
catalog vynal or wood sections. Exterior block walls are typically veneered with
tumbled aged brick and all in all, their as easy
to build as the next type of luxury home.
-----Two floor plan options are being considered, scheme 1 is a two level
solution of about 23,000sf and scheme 2 is a three level solution of around
35,0000 sf.
Other options are screen enclosures for the upper level pool, utilization of
mansard roof attic area for storage, rest rooms etc.
-----Site Planning is very important to success of the project. The kitchen
garden will not only be a focal point of the outdoor dining area but a working
necessity for
clientele meal preparation (eg herbs-spices and many fresh vegetables that make
the difference in meal quality and mixed drink preparation (mint julips,etc).
Amenities will include guest parking for 50 cars, tennis courts, a practice
green and bocce courts..
------Planting design plays a big role in recreating the historical
ambience so important to this design. Advanced live oaks and southern magnolias
are priority
elements for early establishment of the alley and entry mood. Accurate
reproduction of the kitchen garden layout and furniture detail is significant
along with attention
to detail for the dimensions and feel of the crushed oyster shell entry drive.
Photo Montage of Oak Alley
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Site Plan and Concept Floor Plan
-----Siteing is important to realize maximum view potential from 2 or 3rd
level pool and seafood buffet area
-----Live Oak Alley would have to be shortened to around 300' but would
still be effective. Southern magnolias with azalea under planting are also
an important part
of the ambiance
-----Outdoor dining portion of the ground level restaurant with its
classic kitchen garden setting is a major design opportunity
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Front Elevation Study--Diagrammatic
cross sections
Both the the 2 and 3 level schemes are shown here in frontal elevation and
section view
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View from 2 or 3rd Level Pool Deck
Overlooking the Apalachicola River Estuary--East Point Fla. is in the distance
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View of proposed continuous 145' mural
band around the top of the restaurant ceiling.
Mural shown is part of a 7x 70' mural band in the Panama City Mall by artist
Mary Erickson-muralist-Marsh
Harbor, North Carolina.
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kent mccoy landscape architect
email kentmccoy40@gmail.com