Entelechy I by John Portman
Entelechy I
By architect John Portman
The Portman family opened its doors in October 2026 for Atlanta Design Festival’s annual architecture tours. The tour was hosted by John Portman’s family members, a team of archivists and Atlanta Design Festival docents.
This tour was special because rather than simply walking through the space, guests got to hear stories from family that grew up in this daydream of a home.
With it’s complex, multi-layered floor plan, Entelechy I is a premier example of biophilic design. Views of towering indoor trees complement one of two dining spaces. A water way flows from outdoors to indoors, softly rippling beneath elevated platforms that house plants, furniture and walking space.
Entelechy I is a show house, an art piece in itself. Still, the bedrooms are quiet nests.
Exploding Columns
Copper colored exploding columns are an identifying characteristic at Entelechy I. Exterior columns, in a way, bend the walls, bringing the outside in, and the inside out. Interior columns have a larger than life quality reminiscent of a grand library or museum, a fitting association seeing that life-size stone sculptures nestle in the columns.
The home is sectioned off to distinguish between public space, where guests are entertained, and private space where family retreats.
Many of the art pieces and scultpures throughout the home were created by architect John Portman.
