A Guide to the Dirty South―Atlanta

Drawing on the format of the urban guidebook, A Guide to the Dirty South―Atlanta generates a new discourse about the architecture of the American South. By guiding readers on a tour of Atlanta, this project seeks to reclaim a regional identity for cities otherwise deemed to be a "backwoods" by the East and West Coasts. Borrowing from the hip hop industry and recognising the rivalry between the two coasts, A Guide to the Dirty South―Atlanta redirects our attention to a ‘third coast’. Steeped in geography, historical events, typology, storytelling, and popular culture, trajectories through the city that the guide takes are idiosyncratic but urge the discipline of architecture toward a long overdue reading of Dirty South regionalism. Part tour guide, part architectural manual, the publication also features oral histories in a set of interviews with prominent architects, theorists, chefs, community leaders, and hip hop artists, from Architectural Historian Mario Carpo to hip-hop group Goodie Mob. Authored by Jennifer Bonner, the TVSDesign Distinguised Studio Critic at Georgia Tech, A Guide to the Dirty South―Atlanta takes the reader on a tour of “Rap City”, “Pop up Surface Lots”, “Architecture of Quarantine” and a “Geography of Smells”. Wittily designed, and featuring beautiful illustrations throughout, A Guide to the Dirty South―Atlanta is perfect for those new to the architectural delights of Atlanta, and long-time fans alike.