Urban Asheville home featured in Fine Homebuilding
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A budget-conscious, urban home in Asheville designed by architect Daryl Rantis will be featured in the October/November issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine.The home in the Chicken Hill neighborhood west of downtown was designed with a strict budget to meet the needs of downsized, contemporary lifestyles. The article about the home, “Small & Tall,” shows that despite a tiny lot and a tight budget, the little house can rise to the occasion. The urban feel of the vertical home was specifically designed to appeal to a modern sensibility and fit on a small lot, according to Rantis, the Director of Design at Green Hammer in Portland, Ore., a design/build construction company. Rantis took the position in July after practicing seven years in Asheville. He is still connected to Western North Carolina through an association with Alembic Studio.The style of the house is a fusion of modern and Craftsman, reflecting the contemporary lifestyles of city dwellers while paying respect to the architecture and cultural heritage of Asheville with its rich tradition of highly detailed architecture. Details of the home are more typical of Craftsman-style houses, which are traditionally known for their intricate finishes.The Fine Homebuilding article focuses on the home’s small footprint. The three-story design uses less foundation (concrete) and less roofing (metal), two materials used for their longevity but which are also carbon intensive. The small footprint of the building still allows a reasonable amount of square footage, about 1,500. The interior is appointed with minimalist trim details and modern cabinetry that breaks from the traditional Craftsman. Wood beams and floors in the living areas give it a clean, yet warm interior. Interiors were styled by Asheville artist Denise Legendre of Denuci Design. The skin of the building, made from cement fiber panels, reduces the amount of wood and maintenance. It is contrasted with the use of locally harvested cypress for its warmth and beauty.The neighborhood’s proximity to downtown, the River Arts District and public transportation allows private, detached home ownership in an urban area. A family could live in the home with less dependence on a car. Built and developed by Bill MacCurdy of Sun Construction in 2009, it is designed to be part of a six-building cluster.Photos by J. Weiland Photography