Go Go Godzilllla

Mardi Gras 2010 I was driving with some friends in central city, parallel to the parade route, looking for parking. We happend upon some pretty arresting architecture along the way. The one house which made us stop the car for a better look was the so called ' alligator house'. We knew nothing of this house at the time. The song 'Go Go Godzilla' happened to be playing on the radio sealing the moment in our memories.
I later found out the name of the house and the architect who designed it.

Dear Mr. Coker,

I just wanted to send you a note about my admiration for your Alligator house. Consider this fan mail.
I graduated from Tulane in the Spring, and I was back in New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year.

I was on my way to the St. Charles Parade route on the Friday before Mardi Gras when I saw the house. My friend was driving and we had to stop the car to admire the house. I will never forget coming across this house. It is hard for me to describe how I feel about it but I was amazed. It has taken me a few weeks of web sleuthing to be able to find out information on it. I found out today that you are responsible for it.

I am not an architecture student but it is something I am very interested in as an observer. I had the privilege to hear the architecture critic, Paul Goldberger, give a talk on his latest book this fall. In this talk he used the phrase "architecture is the stage set for our memories." This could not be more true of the Alligator house. The song Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult was playing on the radio when we saw it that night. Too perfect given the name of the house.

Thank you,

He sent a short response and a great photo (above) of the house that I had not seen before on the internet:


Thank you for your kind words, they mean a great deal.

Best,

Coleman

Months later a friend sent me this photo of the house from Dwell Magazine:

photographer: RICHARD THOMPSON III
seen: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/richard.thompson.photo?v=feed&story_fbid=313454857460
from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/syf0n/4376435467/

see also:

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls the spitting high tension wires down, Godzilla!

Helpless people on subway trains
Scream BUG-EYED as he looks in on them, Godzilla!

He picks up a bus and he throws it back down
As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town, Godzilla

Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah

Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah

Rinji news o moshiagemasu!
Rinji news o moshiagemasu!
Godzilla ga Ginza hoomen e mukatte imasu!
Daishkyu hinan shite kudasai!
Daishkyu hinan shite kudasai!
(Attention, emergency news!
Attention, emergency news!
Godzilla is going toward the Ginza area!
Immediately escape, catch up, find shelter please!
Immediately escape, catch up, find shelter please!)

Oh no, they say he's got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah

History shows again and again
How nature points up the folly of men
Godzilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!