Droolworthy Octagons

[nightrythm]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Longwood.jpg

Longwood (Natchez, Mississippi)

http://www.josephpelllombardi.com/5homes/newoctagon.html
The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House

And for general info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octagon_house

Comments

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

Now if only they didn't inherently act as giant chimneys that burn like tinder, it'd be great...

[nightrythm]

They can be made of cement, or brick... (I just like wood).

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

(you do know they have a modest one over at Heritage Square, right?
http://www.heritagesquare.org/Octagon.htm

[nightrythm]

Yes, I just haven't gotten over there yet. :-(

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

Yes, but trim and furnishings are rarely fireproof - brick buildings burn all the time. It's REALLY hard to get permits to build them new because of that one inherent design consequence. It is a prime reason to make the stairways external rather than central/spiral.

[nightrythm]

Are you telling me I can't have one? *sniff* Damn... I'll just have to build it in West Virgina where they don't have those pesky building permit thingies.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

Well, they might let you have one if you put the stairs/hallways along the outside. But that kills the ventilation advantage of the hollow core design (imagine that!). You can also just search for local existing examples and make generous offers... ;P

[nightrythm]

That, and move to San Fransico... they've got two.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

There's an estimated 2000+, there's got to be more than 2 up there and more than the one down here...

[nightrythm]

They're mostly Midwest and some to the East. There might be a couple in Oregon and Washington. But I've done a lot of internet perusings and I haven't found much on the West Coast.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

I would start by asking the LA Conservancy or the folk at Heritage Square about whether or not there's more out here. It's only those already listed as landmarks that're going to show up easy...

[nightrythm]

Good point. Don't get me wrong though, I haven't given up completely. :-)

[j4yx0r.livejournal.com]

Great links, thanks! There was an Octagon house in the town I grew up in (Smithfield, Rhode Island) and I always thought it was cool. I had no idea they were so prevalent or what the point was.

~j

[(Anonymous)]

See, now you've gone and made me jelous. ;-)

[j4yx0r.livejournal.com]

I'll try to take some pictures for you next time I'm out there.

~j