Sevier Ext. Comp

This clever new infill house near UNCA is a 4 bedroom and 3 bath home efficiently tucked into 1600 sq/ft of living space. While the interior is very smooth and light the exterior is skinned with heavy rough hewn wood and steel.  If you want a house with a low maintenance exterior this modernist cabin is bound to provide generations of easy living here in the mountains.  It has everything, but a pair of antlers hanging on the front!  The house is listed for $315,000.

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Beaverbrook Comp

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Kitchen Comp

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When Randy Siegel went in search of a new home in Asheville he was looking for clean architecture, an open floor plan and long range mountain views.  Mid-century architect, J. Bertram King, provided him that opportunity with this 3200 sq/ft house that sits in the hills above the Asheville Country Club.  The house was originally constructed in 1959 and has 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms.  He was fortunate in finding the home in mostly original condition with the exception of some colonial style light fixtures he quickly replaced.  Still in place were the original asian style sliding screens from the entry to the living space, the outdoor courtyard off the dining room and the floating concrete fireplace hearth.Year round the house has views of the Grove Park Inn and then expands to included downtown Asheville in the winter.  He replaced the deteriorating back view patio with concrete slabs that reflect a mid-century aesthetic.  He then hired a concrete artist to build tables and add a fountain to a previously blank wall.  The outdoor space provided a contemporary setting for his 50th birthday party guests who enjoyed music from a live band that flowed both indoors and out.The crisp black and white kitchen serves as an intimate eating area for two, a gathering place for entertaining guests and provides several functioning work spaces all while enjoying a panoramic view of the mountains from a wrap around row of windows.The light and open interior of the home provides a great backdrop for Randy's art and furniture collection.  He has collected an eclectic mix of American and European antiques and Outsider art. The art is everywhere.  Pieces range from paintings to sculpture.  The sculpture ranges from soft media to metal.  There are stories behind a lot of the pieces, most of which are figurative or portraiture in some form or fashion.  Added in are some folk art furniture pieces, some sizable, like an antique African-American chest-on-chest in his office that came from a barbershop in Gainesville, Ga.The challenge, of course, is to bring the art collection together without cluttering up the aesthetics of the clean, contemporary architecture.  Siegel goes right up to the line on that point, but seldom crosses it.  “I'm interested in seeing how all these elements can work together,” he said. He often does so with a sense of play. Play, along with work and rest, is a key word in Randy's home which he likes to share with his close friends and his dog, Lucy.To see more of Bertram King's work go to the link provided on the right.

Article by Troy Winterrowd and ISurfAsheville.com. Photos by Troy Winterrowd

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Mark Allison comp

One of the things I feel strongly about is the need for interesting infill housing and mixed use buildings to better serve the residents of our community.  Mark Allison is always exploring these issues.  I was excited to see his design for this duplex/mixed use style dwelling.  As a realtor I have many clients looking for such properties to either lower their initial investment, to share common spaces and/or to gain some return on their investment.  Here is what Mark has to say about his design strategy."Infill housing strengthens the urban core so that we are not forced to use our cars to get from place to place. This 6,500 square foot prototype is shown on a ¼ acre semi-urban lot, but can be adapted for zero lot line situations. The front of the building can house a business or a cafe, enhancing the experience of the street. Automobile and bicycle storage is provided in the rear of the building. The two dwelling units feature open living, dining, and kitchen areas with a powder room on the middle level. Two bedrooms with private baths along with a private porch are located on the top level. Some other green features include solar water heating, rainwater collection, and energy efficient construction."Images courtesy of Mark Allison

Interview with Scott Huebner

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The Architectural firm Samsel Architects was founded in 1985 by Jim Samsel in Asheville. From their informative and recently updated website one will find that the firm's mission: "stewardship for the environment, community and client's dreams" is what inspires their work.  On first impression, many of Samsel Architects' projects have a pleasing assured quality - a quiet, respectful connection to their surrounding site. In talking with Scott Huebner, a project architect at Samsel Architects' office, one discovers that these qualities often encompass larger efforts in attaining the right balance "between a strong connection to their Appalachian roots and a modern interpretation for today's contemporary lifestyles.” One finds that the efforts behind many of Samsel Architect's designs, both commercial and residential, are frequently the result a subtle and integrated layering of history, an understanding of place, and a progressive approach to sustainability.Believing that technology is one key element in the design of efficiently operated and inhabited buildings, a current residential project on the boards at Samsel is slated to include a green roof and solar hot water panels."  As clients begin to embrace these technologies, architects must take up the challenge to fully integrate them into our designs and still maintain our highest aesthetic standards." says Huebner.  Samsel Architects believes the technology should not rule or drive the aesthetics of the projects, but they should be integrated, and allowing passive aspects such as solar heating and air cooling, natural daylighting, shading and proper building siting define the architectural or aesthetic qualities of their buildings.Whereas we have a rich legacy of traditional building in the area, one finds that not all of Samsel Architects' work simply relies on direct facsimile of this legacy.  Their projects' connection to an Appalachian past can be seen in more innovative ways such as a strong integration of the local legacy of craftsmanship and the use of rich and earthen colors, and recognizable forms. “We have a great deal of respect for the craft and traditional building heritage of the Appalachian region, we view our work as a modern extension of this as seen in our use of timbers, stone, and other natural materials” says Huebner.  These elements are among the many which evoke a good sense of the richness of history without actually replicating that history. Each project  walks a fine line between that of the local vernacular and a modernism that is warm and inviting.  This successful approach gives a sense of  forward momentum coupled with an appreciation of the past on which they build for the future.  We look forward to seeing Samsel Architects' next project come to fruition.Interview and article by Nicolaas Wilkens, photos courtesy of Samsel Architects