“Not-So-Utopian Futures: Solar & Climate Architecture of the 1950s”.

We are excited to share with you this great opportunity. What can we learn from cutting edge, sustainable mid-century modern architecture? On Thursday evening, November 1, AIA Asheville and CASE, present a lecture, “Not-So-Utopian Futures: Solar & Climate Architecture of the 1950s”. Networking and refreshments 5:00pm, lecture to begin at 6:00pmThe lecture, by Daniel A. Barber, will discuss how solar house heating methods and techniques of climatic design were essential aspects of the global architectural discussion in the period surrounding World War II. These “techno-cultural” developments produced novel designs that emphasized the role of architecture as a practice to present new ideas to connect the built environment with the natural environment.

For more information go here. We hope to see you there. Cheers!

— Kelly and Troy

This article came to us through one of our design feeds. Given our local culture's knack for recycling and reusing items in new ways we thought this a clever and sophisticated option for privacy and sun screening. Check in out here and enjoy!

— Kelly and Troy

We would love to see some of this thought brought to life in our downtown buildings and elsewhere as part of the beautiful natural environment in which we live. I had always imagined the BB&T building simply being re-skinned and areas recessed to incorporate plants reflecting a greener and more thoughtful future for our downtown.

Either way, please enjoy this article from our daily dezeen feed and have a fun holiday weekend. Cheers!

ReGen Village | A new neighborhood that will grow its own food, power itself, and handle its own waste. As always, our friends in this part of Europe set the tone for the future in terms of design and lifestyle. This neighborhood will be the first ReGen Village, a new type of community designed to be fully self-sufficient, growing its own food, making its own energy, and handling its own waste in a closed loop.

Read the full article here. Anyone think it would be great in Asheville? Cheers!

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

~ William Morris

This quote by the artist and craftsman, captures the spirit of this custom crafted, modern home constructed with heirloom quality craftsmanship affectionately named — the Redbud. This home will be on the Modern and Contemporary Home Tour this weekend and the only home listed for sale. Please stop by and meet the owner, designer and builder/craftsman of this beautiful home and sustainable community. Please be sure to buy your ticket in advance here. Cheers!

3 Bedrooms  |  3.5 Baths  |  3333 sqft  |  MLS#3148793

The floor of the light filled living space is polished concrete and sets the stage for gallery style living while absorbing the sun to keep the cool space warm. Rich hand crafted details of ash and oak are used sparingly and mindfully with plenty of white space to keep your eye uncluttered from excess. The main level provides all you need for living including the kitchen, living, dining, laundry and the master bedroom en-suite. The upper level has two bedrooms suites for your family or friends with a flexible loft for extra living, office or a studio to meet all your creative needs.

The kitchen, the heart of any home, has been specially designed to do more with less. The efficient work space is flanked on either side with spacious and tactile surfaces atop rich wood cabinetry. Everything you need is at your fingertips with an ample pantry nearby to store all the extras. It comes fully furnished with quality Bosch appliances. Located adjacent are the side entry mudroom and laundry room for fully servicing the home. The natural beauty of the Redbud veils the sophisticated mechanics that render it near Net Zero in efficiency. It effectively uses both passive and active solar for energy and heating. Further heating and cooling are supported by a geothermal heat pump and a wood stove for enhancing that Danish modern style coziness. Electric bills are close to nothing for this 3400 sqft home. There is nothing more to do, but to live lightly in this earth grounded home. 

The heirloom quality built Redbud is the second of three homes creating the dawning green, net zero community of Green Acres in South Asheville. Green Acres rests convenient to all the amenities of South Asheville while remaining a rustic getaway for private sustainable living or urban style homesteading. The 2.62 acres that accompany the home have the starts of a richly composted, organic veggie garden and berries. The neighbors further support the community with fruit trees and other shared ways to live off the land. 

Modern Atlanta comes to Modern Asheville | 

Hi Folks! It is coming. Our second annual Modern Atlanta and Modern Asheville sponsored Modern Home tour here in Asheville. This year we will have 7 homes on the tour. 

The tour will take place on Saturday, June 4th from 10am to 4pm. Some of the best of WNC contemporary homes will be on display. For more detailed information on the homes and to purchase tour tickets please go HERE or sign up for the EVENTS PAGE to get updates. 

We can't wait to see you out there.

Cheers!

A Regionally Inspired Parking Garage

As always, we believe we could be far more innovative in designing and constructing a living and sustainable downtown. I came across this little story on NPR and just wanted to share it as inspiration from the Northwest.

Here is a snippet:

"Employing a unique engineered wood product only recently produced by Oregon mills, a UO student team has won an Honorable Mention in a competition hosted by the American Institute of Architects Northwest and Pacific Region.The students in Professors Judith Sheine and Mark Donofrio’s spring studio designed a parking structure using Oregon’s newest structural wood product—cross-laminated timber, or CLT—an exceptional accomplishment in architectural education and design practice."

Go here for the rest. Wouldn't it be great to see some of our own designers be able to participate, use regional inspiration and resources, in the design and construction of our downtown buildings and community. Cheers!

Kelly and I brought our Seller/Builder together with one of our Buyer's on this modern, shed style home yesterday prior to breaking ground. Greg McGuffey of Earthtone Builders approached us to market his first spec home. Given the home fit our buyer's needs we were able to bring both parties together early in the process.The 1480 sqft, 3 bedroom and 2 bath home will be a rare one-level, new build home for West Asheville which is what most of our clients are looking for as they age in place over time.

The quality, green home Greg thoughtfully designed is earth friendly, light, airy and low maintenance which will keep it low-cost and sustainable. When completed the home will be Near Net Zero and come with a NC Green Built Gold Certificate.

In detail, it will feature concrete floors with radiant heat, concrete counters, vaulted ceilings, bonus loft, stainless appliances and fixtures and topped off with a galvanized metal roof and 5Kw grid-tied solar system. It should be a home our client can live easily and lightly in for decades to come.

Follow us along this year as we check in on the building progress with Greg. Cheers!

— Kelly and Troy

Green Home Educational Tours courtesy of the Arboretum

green-home_remodel

The North Carolina Arboretum and our Community Partner and Mosaic are pleased to offer the following tours in conjunction with the “Sustainable Shelter” exhibit. See below for tour descriptions, dates and times. Tour space is limited, so please pre-register for your tour(s) of choice. You may register by calling (828) 665-2492 and speaking with Peggy Eavenson or Kelly Ball or through email by contacting membership@ncarboretum.org. If registering by email, please include the name(s), date(s) and time(s) of the tour(s) you would like to attend as well as your name, address, phone number and names of any guests attending with you.A cash donation of $5.00 to $10.00 to The N.C. Arboretum Society is suggested at the time of the tour. All tours begin off-site and attendees are responsible for their own transportation.

OTHER TOURS

Sunday, November 6th– Green Home Driving Tour

Caravan in your own vehicle (carpooling with family and friends is preferred) and visit new green homes and green construction sites throughout Central and West Asheville.Tour starts at 2:00 p.m. and lasts approximately 3 hours.Meets at 1 Perdue Place, Asheville, NC 28806