DesignAlabama is continually looking for ways to improve communities statewide and enhance quality of life. DesignDash – its latest program with those objectives in mind – recently launched in the town of Double Springs, the county seat of Winston... Read more
A few years ago, CNN declared: “Warehouse conversions are sweeping the globe.” This adaptive reuse strategy began in Birmingham long before that CNN report, with derelict older buildings being turned into exciting livable spaces that meet the ever-changing needs... Read more
Few towns can claim such strong community identity as Monroeville, where celebrated writers Truman Capote and Harper Lee grew up as friends. Set in Monroeville, Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird has brought worldwide attention to the... Read more
If in doubt about the need for safer streets, consider this: Traffic is a far greater threat to people walking on city sidewalks than crime. This is the case in many urban areas including Mobile, where efforts are being... Read more
“Architects are late bloomers,” writes architect and urban designer Matthew Frederick in his book, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. “Most architects do not hit their professional stride until around age 50.” Amanda Loper is no late bloomer.... Read more
A well-designed website is essential to the success of a small business, particularly those with little or no brick-and-mortar presence that rely exclusively on online sales. That’s the case with Two Hands Guitar Co. in Fairhope that produces hand-crafted,... Read more
Everything and everyone need sprucing up now and then. Even Birmingham’s Innovation Depot, which was recently treated – metaphorically speaking – to a fresh coat of paint. The leading business incubation facility recently partnered with Telegraph Creative to refresh... Read more
First came the artist atelier in mid-19th century Paris. Then SoHo’s Cast Iron District in the 1950s-70s. In 2021, loft living is practically synonymous with Birmingham thanks to its many conversions of industrial and commercial space. Among Birmingham’s latest... Read more
Quite literally, alleys have long taken a backseat to other parts of town. These often-underused narrow spaces between and behind buildings are now being “activated” for public use. Efforts are under way to transform Merchant Alley in downtown Athens... Read more
Downtown Birmingham has a large inventory of older industrial buildings, thanks in large part to benign neglect. Many of these early buildings today are providing an ideal source for mixed-used redevelopment. “The reason there are a lot of old... Read more
