Did you know that there’s a shift towards doing a lot in less space? That as a society we are finding we are happier with fewer possessions? That more and more people are cooking and growing their own food, and wellness is more important to most Americans? These are just a few of the topics our speakers discussed at the 2009 IRN Conference in Atlanta last week.
These same themes, coincidentally, tied into a visit our group made to Serenbe, the Utopian green community outside of the city. There, the homes and quaint shops (which were closed that day, darn)
have porches or balconies – better for getting to know the neighbors – and the streets and exterior of all the houses are lit by gaslight instead of electric.
Old-school ideas seem to be the “new” new.
By the way, we were also impressed by the architecture of the high-rise buildings
in Buckhead, surrounding the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where our conference was held.
Whether old or new, the design community in Atlanta is really rocking.