[444918] Dine Overlooking Downtown (666x500)

$1,485,675.00    4385 sqft.3 Bedrooms and 3.5 BathsListed by: Janet Whitworth

"Unrivaled views of Asheville and distant mountain ranges, yet five minutes to downtown.  A striking blend of Mid-Century Modern and Arts and Crafts architecture on beautifully landscaped 3.4 acres of rolling terrain.  Glass everywhere to enjoy views from dining, living, kitchen and upstairs master bedroom.  Outdoor living spaced include a covered porch, master bedroom balcony, screened porch.  Enjoy dining on the main level patio with huge sunset views."

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This home built in 1960 was originally designed by Six Associates here in Asheville.  Over the years it has undergone some additions and updates designed by noted architect Robert Griffin.  I recently toured the home with Janet and found the blend between mid-century modern and contemporary arts and crafts to be quite seamless throughout the house.  Great care was taken to strike a thoughtful and harmonious blend between the styles which makes it unique in itself.  For a bit of history on the home please find my article titled "Blast from the Past - Year 1960".To view this property's website Click Here! To view this property's virtual tour Click Here!

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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.

Last night I attended the grand opening of Pink Dog Creative Studios on Lyman St. in the River Arts District.  The property is a creative venture by artist/designer Randy Shull and creative entrepreneur Hedy Fisher.  The building will house workshops, artist studios, community space and eventually a new restaurant adding its signature to the growing venues in the River District of Asheville.

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Paper Clothing from the Mars Manufacturing Company It has been three years now since I saw this fun exhibit at the Asheville Museum of Art. The museum hosted a collection of paper dresses made here in Asheville by the Mars Manufacturing Co. where the Riverview Station is on Lyman St. today. In review this fashion trend started in 1966, when Scott Paper Co. introduced disposable clothing as a promotion gimmick with a sleeveless shift selling for $1.00. It was so shapeless that it recalled a paper bag. But for a country now accustomed to throw-away cups, plates, napkins and diapers, paper clothing seemed a logical next step. Scott sold 500,000 dresses in eight months, and the strong response had other manufacturers and designers joining the paper chase.By 1967, Mars Manufacturing Company of Asheville was the nation's leading producer of paper dresses, selling 80,000 to 100,000 a week. From its basic A-line shift, the company expanded its line to include bell-bottom jump suits, evening gowns, aprons, men's vests, children's dresses and even swimming trunks. The rage for paper lasted a short time and by 1974 it was already passé. At that point the Mar's Manufacturing Company began experimenting with other uses for paper clothing and eventually developed a successful line of disposable garments to be worn in factories and hospitals.Images and text courtesy of the Asheville Museum of Art

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Sunday, September 26th is WNC's Green Building Council's tour of Green Homes For Sale in the area.  Over 20 homes will be available for viewing between noon and 4pm.  Go to www.wncgbc.org for details and a free tour guide.To the right is a contemporary home that will be on the tour - 80 Horizon Hill Rd.

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I finally stopped in to meet Barbara Zaretsky today at her studio in the Cotton Mills. I have seen her work in shops and magazines and was an instant fan of her simple and sophisticated patterns and color palette.  They lend themselves to a clean modern environment of Asheville which is why many interior designers visit her to consult on projects. All of BZDesign's home furnishings and wearable accessories are hand-dyed and block-printed.  The are made with natural fibers, plant dyes and textile paints making each piece subtly unique. Furthermore, she uses "Peace" silk which is silk created by a humane process allowing the silk moths to emerge from their cocoons and live out their full life cycle.  Because the silk fiber has been broken into many smaller strands by the emerging moth, the harvested silk is spun similar to cotton or linen, instead of being reeled.  The resulting yarn is soft, fluffy and light as a cloud.At her studio in the River Arts District her silk fabrics are washed, mordanted, dyed and printed.  To achieve the natural earthy palette, she uses concentrated plant extracts from a variety of plants including osage orange, madder root and walnut.After the fabric is dyed and rinsed, it is folded, clamped and dyed again.  The next layer of surface design is created by hand, block-printing or embroidery.  Each piece is then either hand or machine-sewn into pillows, wall pieces, scarves and dresses.Overall, the work at BZDesign reflects many of the core values we aspire to in Asheville's modern lifestyle; simplicity, sustainability and sophistication in design.

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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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One of my favorite buildings in downtown is The Civic Center.  It was one of my first memories of Asheville when I drove here for the first time over four years ago.  It draws a strong defining line on the city's northern edge created by a dramatic overhang mixing rustic stone and modern poured concrete and glass.  The scale of the stone, cantilevers and the overhang impressively floats off of the hillside balancing the scale and anchored by the entrance positioned further uphill.The Civic Center opened June 22, 1974 with Bob Hope performing.  Architect John Cort drew up the Civic Center plans; he was of the firm Baber & Wood.  An original committee called the "Best for Asheville Committee" organized the plans for the Civic Center and most of the building was paid for by a special bond voted on by the residents of Asheville.Below, these illustrated snapshots were published in the Asheville Citizen in 1971 and give a great description of what the Civic Center was to become.One of modern features of the Civic Center at the time was the facilities "Bargain Basement" as staff writer Peggy Bier described it in 1970.   Here is a portion of her article:"When the circus comes to downtown Asheville, where do you park the elephants?  No, elephant lovers, not in the Jell-o.  You park them in the bargain basement of the proposed new Civic Center, along with the lions, the tigers, the aerialists and everything else that is not performing upstairs in the arena at the time.  The bargain basement is one of the little goodies architects Baber & Wood felt they've put into the design that other civic centers don't have.  Architect John Cort stated it holds the boilers and air conditioners permanently, and would hold air compressors and ice makers temporarily if an ice show came to town.""The bargain part is because it would cost less to rent than the plusher main arena.  It would be the only part of the Civic Center that would not be air conditioned.  The mockup for the center reminds one of that song about bones.  Everything seems to be connected with everything else."This past year the Civic Center went through some extensive renovations on the auditorium.  I was glad to see that they preserved the original design of the exterior.  I know given time more people will come to appreciate the 70's landmark and its place within the urban fabric of downtown Asheville.   Fifty years from now it won't be only the deco style buildings that are admired, but the rich environment woven together from all decades of architecture represented in our downtown.History courtesy of the Downtown Public Library, Article and Photos by Troy Winterrowd

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MLS 470298   $279,0001403 sq/ft. 3 Bedrooms & 2 BathsListed by: Penny Williams This is one of the smartest, efficient and low maintenance infill homes in Asheville.  I have shown this dozens of times and always eager to see it again.  This house sets a new precedent for construction in Asheville.  To view this property or to find out more about the builder feel free to contact me.Here is how Penny describes it, "New custom home - a great neighborhood alternative to an urban condo.  This rustic modern home was inspired by mid-century architecture and natural materials.  The construction incorporates green features through high-quaity materials + innovative building practices.  The interior is light + bright with nine foot ceilings and hardwood floors throughout.  Two large covered outdoor spaces for entertaining.  A certain showpiece for anyone who appreciates modern!" Green Components: Cor Ten Steel Siding for decades of no maintenance, Weatherbond rolled-rubber roofing system, high-efficiency tankless gas hot water heater, 2x6 exterior walls w/R-19 insulation, Kohler dual-flush toilets, no VOC paints, Energy Star appliances, rain barrel water collection and others.

photos courtesy of Penny Williams

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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