In this edition of "In Defense Of," the PreservationNation blog speaks with Ashley Wilson, the National Trust Graham Gund Architect, about Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort hotel.

What is it?

It is one of the original resorts built in the Orlando Walt Disney World in 1971. It embodies this really utopian view of the future as a place of excitement and wonderment. It’s such an optimistic place compared to where I think we are today. It’s Tomorrowland.

The monorail goes right through the atrium so it’s sort of taking hot architecture and sticking a train in the middle of it. It was truly a contemporary hotel.