"Architect seeks beer garden (client/owner) for Great Falls"

I may be biased through my German upbringing, with beer gardens in every village, on every farm, in every other back yard,  on top of most castles, and along every lake, river, and creek. Beer gardens are generally family friendly, inviting the community to take a break. They feature simple but fresh menus, often with breakfast and lunch specials. There are garden elements such as trees, flowers, lawns or fountains, and it's common to have a play zone for little ones. Coffee drinks and "Saftschorle" (half juice, half soda water) are as common as the beverage giving these places it's name. Office workers cherish an outdoor lunch opportunity as much as weekend warriors.

As an architect, I wish I could wave my magic wand, and turn these environments into reality. To be honest, our powers turn out to be rather limited. We can design buildings, work with banks, builders, and owners to create or update a variety of spaces. But even the greatest space depends on organizations to own and operate them. Individuals such as owners of tenant businesses, chefs and service staff impact the overall success of a project as much as the architect. But even with all those in place, a space only comes to life with us, the community.  

This post wouldn't be complete without reference to some of the places around town that already come close to the spirit of a beer garden. Machinery Row is a cool historic building on 202 2nd Ave S, and houses a number of tenants including a sandwich restaurant (Staggering Ox), a Pizza place in the works,  as well as two bars. Tucked to the side, it features a great little side yard, that occasionally  fills up with music and people, transforming it into a true beer garden. Visit some of their concerts or open mic nights, and you'll get a taste of it.  The Front and  MacKenzie River also offer nice outdoor seating areas.

What is your favorite outdoor eating or drinking spot in town? Where would you like to see a beer garden? Attached to your favorite restaurant, along the river, or overlooking one of our beautiful parks?

Check out a variety of outdoor dining environments, from tiny to plaza-filling, on our Pinterest site: http://pinterest.com/sparkarch/dining-environments/
 
Whether you have plans for a beer garden or something else, call us at  406.453.0001 , or email me at sophia@spark-architecture.com

Enjoy your summer,
Sophia