In this episode, Steve Nygren talks about how he took his successful hospitality career and applied it to building a community from scratch. They were creating places through hospitality, and Steve knew when building Serenbe that they needed to have a place for people to gather around food. That first place was the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop.

Questions Answered

What is placemaking?

How does scale and massing in architecture contribute to the authentic feel of a place?

What is a condition sheet?

What is a thornbird transect?

How does Serenbe differ from typical New Urbanism?

Why did Steve Nygren design the streets after omegas?

Why does traditional Southern architecture incorporate porches?

How do porches in Serenbe encourage community engagement?

How can a mail house add to a sense of place?

Where are all the trash cans and mail boxes in Serenbe?

Why don't you see front lawns in Serenbe?

Where can you eat in Serenbe (besides the restaurants)?

What are Serenbe's home design guidelines?

People + Organizations Mentioned

Phipps Plaza

Proper Hair

Serenbe Planning & Design

Texas A&M University

The Well-Placed Weed

The Farmhouse Restaurant

Lord & Taylor

Inn at Serenbe

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects

Merrill Lynch

PBS

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren.