Classic Recognition
The Southeast chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art awards excellence in traditional architecture and design at the 10th annual Shutze awards.
The remarkable legacy of renowned Atlanta architect and 20th-century classicist Philip Trammell Shutze is evident in his iconic houses and public buildings that still stand regally amid the lush, leafy neighborhoods of the city. Structures with evocative names—some official, some bestowed with affection by local aficionados of his work—bear testament to the enduring scope of his portfolio: Swan House, The Pink Castle, The Pink Palace, The Villa and The Temple, to name just a few. Though their styles may range from Italianate to Colonial Revival, all reflect the deft hand of a man who meticulously studied the masters of his craft and applied the tenets of classical architecture by translating the scale, proportions and details in a way that was thoroughly appropriate for his time yet still resonates today.
It’s fitting, then, that when the Southeast chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) gathers each year for an awards ceremony that celebrates modern-day practitioners of traditional design, they do so in Shutze’s name. “He raised the bar with his great scale and balance, sense of showmanship and respect for history,” says Jim Strickland, founder of the architecture and planning firm Historical Concepts, multiple Shutze award winner and honorary chairperson for this year’s event. “He really understood and learned from the masters of architecture and continues to influence those of us who endeavor to carry on the principles of classicism.” classicist-se.org
A Storied Event
What, when and where:
Tenth Annual Shutze Awards, sponsored by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Southeast, on February 27, 2016, at the Piedmont Driving Club’s Grand Ballroom, a Shutze design.
They’ll be the judges:
Awards are decided through a blind judging process by industry leaders from outside the Southeast region. This year’s jurors are architect Mark Ferguson of New York firm Ferguson & Shamamian, landscape designer Kathryn Herman of Doyle Herman Design Associates in Greenwich, Connecticut, and interior designer Suzanne Tucker of Tucker & Marks in San Francisco.
The award goes to:
With the exception of a previously announced Lifetime Achievement Award, winners will be revealed at the event and will be given to design professionals who are members of the ICAA and are significantly contributing to the ideals of 21st-century classical and traditional architecture. The practitioners or the projects must be located in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee.
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award: JACKYE LANHAM
Known for her exquisitely detailed rooms that both respect and elevate a house’s architecture and its setting, the ICAA’s Lifetime Achievement honoree, Jackye Lanham, has been practicing interior design for almost 30 years.
“Jackye embodies the values and virtues our organization represents,” says Greg Palmer, president of the board of trustees for the Southeast chapter of the ICAA and a principal at Harrison Design. “She has a keen understanding of classical design and is known for being a great collaborator across a project’s creative team. Her work is always appropriate, thoughtful and in context. There’s a depth to her work that goes beyond just pretty decoration.”
Lanham strives to create spaces that are timeless but timely, fresh but never trendy, with subtlety in color, a generous use of antiques and patina, and an emphasis on incorporating art and collections, all applied with an innate sense of the way her clients actually want to live in their houses. When asked what receiving this recognition means to her, she says, “Being honored by peers whom I admire and respect is a genuine thrill. But it doesn’t mean I’ll be retiring anytime soon. I can’t imagine doing anything else!”
Hooked on Classics: Lanham shares her favorite inspirations
Design inspiration from the past:
John Fowler and Nancy Lancaster of Colefax and Fowler. I loved that English country house look when I was first starting out, and it’s still a strong influence on me.
Style muse:
Giorgio Armani. He designs clothes with simple, classic structure but puts in a little twist that makes things interesting and current.
Elements no Lanham room should be without:
Beautiful light fixtures are the jewels in a room; antiques always anchor a space; and I usually include a touch of black and a little gilt to give a room a bit of sparkle.
Movie set I would love to design:
Almost any movie from the ’40s. Even when the story lines were silly, the sets were fabulous. Cary Grant, Doris Day and Katharine Hepburn were always ambling around some New England country house that was comfy, cozy and charming.
Favorite public space in Atlanta:
The Swan House—a Shutze design, of course. I love the fantasy of stepping back in time.
On a classic Sunday afternoon:
My husband and I take our Cavalier King Charles spaniels, put the top down on our convertible and drive around neighborhoods looking at beautiful houses. Habersham Road is one of our favorites.