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Nelson Brackin is an American architect, photographer, publisher, and published writer from Miami, Florida. Brackin was exposed to architecture early in life by family members including father, grandfather, and grandmother, all of whom had connections to other renowned architects. Brackin grew up with these connections and experiences, in addition to the knowledge to attend Auburn University, where he studied Architecture. After his graduation, Brackin studied and worked alongside fellow American Architect Bruce Goff in Tyler, Texas for a period of 3 years during 1975 to 1978 as an apprentice. During this time, Brackin worked using several exercises from Goff's 273 architecture course at OU. After his apprenticeship, Brackin relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he has been ever since working within the area on more localized projects in architecture, as well as served as a Board member for Friends of Kebyar Southeast (FOKSE).

Early Years
Nelson Brackin was born into a family with history in architecture. His maternal grandfather, German Bauhaus master student Hans Fredrick Grohs, and his maternal grandmother exposing him to Expressionist Architects they knew personally, including Hans Poelzing, Frits Höger, Bernard Hoetger and Hugo Häring. In addition to his grandparents connections, young Brackin also discovered a book on Frank Lloyd Wright and his works written by by Russell Hitchcock called, In the Nature of Materials. These instances created a whirlwind of treasured responses and inspiration for the future architect to delve into self-expression through design.

Brackin attended Auburn University, allowing to meet and study under architect and professor Robert L. Faust. During his academic career, Brackin was introduced to American School of Architecture pioneer, Bruce Goff that developed into a work opportunity as he apprenticed with Goff for 3 years during the mid-to-late 1970s in Tyler, Texas.

Apprenticeship
Brackin apprenticed under Goff during 1975-1978 where he assisted on a number of projects including commercial such as the Mineola Community Center and a Bruce Goff installation exhibit at the Yellowstone Arts Center, and residential such as the Donald Pollock house and the art glass window addition to Joe Price house, nicknamed the Shin'enKan. Brackin also aided in preparing Bruce Goff's portfolio after being asked to photograph Goff's compositions. Once completed, Brackin attended the Roots Growth and Horizons of Organics Architecture conference with Goff in 1977, where he planted roots with fellow architects Frank and Eric Lloyd Wright as well as Brian Spencer.

Architecture Career
Brackin, using his knowledge and experiences, has become an accomplished architect and photographer in Atlanta, Georgia at numerous architectural firms working on an array of project disciplines including retail, hospitality, entertainment, and residential. Some of the most well-known are Chastain Park Amphitheater and the campus bookstore at Emory University and several residential projects such as the Creigh/Roll Residence and the Almand Residence. Brackin used Goff's teaching and his apprentice experience in every project he encountered, creating, protecting, and recycling buildings of architectural history. Some of these projects include sites in his home of Atlanta, Georgia such as the former Oxford Books building, the Mall of America expansion, or metamorphosis as some label, and the Peachtree Road expansion. The most influential of these, the former Oxford Books, an Atlanta monument by some accounts, originally designed by Goff, was taken on by Brackin and fellow architect Joe Molloy after word the city was planning to demolish the only Goff-designed location in the city. Brackin, whom holds a copy of the original composition drawings, defended the building's design and significance despite public disagreement to ensure its safety and respect for the building integrity, as well as the importance of maintaining architectural history. Another example, the Mall of American expansion, was a large scale project in which Brackin provided insight on the proposed open-air concept, saying "going back to our youth" is the key to the prosperity of the location. Brackin also worked on Peachtree Road, a joint effort between a number of organizations in Atlanta to expand and add bike lanes into the streetscape, where Brackin provided insight on the plan and determined it should be thought about as a group effort, not independently in sections, in order to provide the best possible solution for the widest scope of users in the area.

It is due to his enthralling work that earned him several publications in both national and international periodicals, some of which include Architecture + Urbanism and Architectural Digest. Brackin has also been a member of the Friends of Kebyar organization since 1983, including serving as a Board of Directors member between 1995 and 2014 in addition to serving as a co-president from 2000 to 2014. During his time with Kebyar, Brackin served as an editor for 6 journals for the organization. Brackin assisted Robert L. Faust and Larry Wayne Grantham in planning and hosting numerous Kebyar annual gatherings known as Friends of Kebyar Southeast (FOKSE) between 1989 and 2006, all of which were held at Brackin's Alma Mater, Auburn University. The 1999 FOKSE gathering and tour was planned and hosted by Brackin with Jim Fox, that brought nationwide Kebyar fans. He also organized 4 of the 10 celebrations for Kebyar, the 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2010, all of which brought international architects together from Europe, Australia, and both North and South America.

Beyond Architecture
Brackin continues to work as an architect, creating organic architecture for clients based on principles of beauty, truth, and integrity. In recent years, Brackin has assisted well-known author Virginia McAlester to update 2014 publication A Field Guide to American Homes to include chapters on Ranch style, Mid-Century Modern, and Organic Architecture homes. Outside of his career, Brackin resides in Atlanta, Georgia with 3 daughters where he continues to lecture and teach architecture to elementary school students, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, and works as a tour guide for Auldbrass, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed South Carolina plantation.