Assignment 9: Mollie

Parc Chateau in Lithonia is a suburban, garden apartment complex. It is surrounded by single-family houses. Parc Chateau is not gated and visually and spatially indicates the complex is a space for families. Parc Chateau is peaceful in atmosphere and simple in design. It is open and invites the movement of the automobile into and through the neighborhood. The design and materials indicate the date of construction to be in the 1960s or 1970s. Parc Chateau was built in a modern style and yet its name indicates a European, historicist influence. These two disparate elements indicate the name is not original. The design and name of Parc Chateau serve to market the complex to low income families who want to live in a safe, clean environment, but who are also drawn to the complex by a romanticized idea of a European lifestyle.

Parc Chateau was most likely built as low cost apartment housing for families in the Lithonia area. The design of the complex and its proximity to single-family homes as well as the quiet atmosphere that is retained indicates the same clientele is intended today. The landscaping and structures are very well maintained. The roofing seems to have been recently replaced and the road has been newly paved. A shared football field and tennis courts abut the complex. The football field was being used by two children. This use of the shared amenities further indicates the intended clientele of the complex.