by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture | This Fairview home was recognized recently during the AIA Asheville Design Awards that we attended. We were struck by the home’s simplicity and overall utility. Programmatically, here is how the architect’s describe the home. “The residence is situated along the leading of a gently sloping ridge in the home, which minimized the influence to the site but maximized views and solar orientation.The home’s simple L-shape supplies a all-natural division of exterior public and private area, which is basically landscaped to complement the austerity of the architecture. Functionally, this L-shaped program supplies a linear organization of roughly 2,000-square-feet of residing and sleeping spaces, which are linked by an entry foyer to a 2-vehicle garage.

The objective internally was to supply a sense of openness among rooms and accentuate the perception of the interior volume. The use of butt joint glazing atop walls supplies sound manage and privacy however also makes it possible for light to stream through the whole interior rather than merely in each and every individual area. Simple use of created-in wardrobes, cabinetry, pocket doors, and other space-saving characteristics provided fantastic efficiency and accentuated the internal present day character.

Formally, the shed offered a indicates to capture sunlight along the substantial southern wall, generating a much more dramatic presence to the public side, with a a lot more intimate scale for the rear courtyard. Protected by an 8-foot-deep overhang, the southern wall remains totally shaded throughout the summer yet makes it possible for sunlight into the whole depth of rooms in winter to heat the interior polished concrete slab. This naturally seasonal lighting mixed with other sustainable functions this kind of as a geothermal heat pump, hydronic in-floor heating, highly insulated exterior walls and roof, Solarban glazing, and fluorescent lighting have resulted in minimum energy utilization.

To attain the sought after modern day theme, the use of resources is restrained, only accentuated in which necessary to generate emphasis. These materials incorporate stucco, fiber cement panels, aluminum storefront and entry doors, metal roofing, and polished stained concrete block.”

Thank you Jack Thompson of the Preservation Society for sending out this article from The Post and Courier. It is a good little read to reflect on cities that struggle under a tremendous growth of tourism and worth considering given our own growth. For the full article go here. Cheers!

“Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, however, recognizes the importance of keeping a diverse mix of residential, business and tourist uses on the peninsula. Earlier this year he proposed that the city hold off for a while on approving new hotels while the city assesses the situation. More and more are being built on the peninsula to take advantage of Charleston’s popularity as a tourist destination.”

This quote captures the spirit of this custom crafted, modern home constructed with heirloom quality craftsmanship. With the richness and lightness of a modern, Japanese cottage — the Yin of cool, clean space harmonizes with the Yang of warm, rich hand finished materials in this artistic home affectionately named — the Redbud. 

3 Bedrooms  |  3.5 Baths  |  3423 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 3330 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. 

Want to see more of this cool home? Take our tour here. Give Kelly and Troy a call for more information or a private tour of your very own. Cheers!

On behalf of our friends and investor clients we were able to close on this turn-key, vacation rental, investment property called “Among the Clouds” just before the holiday weekend so they could get started operating their new business. Check it out here and share it with your friends. It is the quintessential mountain retreat with hot tub and fire pit for your true mountain escape. Cheers to them!

Hi Folks! You can now see all the entries to WNC’s AIA Design Awards this year. Go here for the video overview.

The outdoor awards is this upcoming Thursday evening and is $25 for General Admission which includes beer, wine and catering by Corner Kitchen. The 30 minute awards portion will be presented via a cool multi-media projection. Come and enjoy this outdoor ceremony at the City County Plaza. For tickets and information go here. Come and join us Modern Mixer crowd. Cheers!

Yesterday, following a closing on a property for one of our investor clients {YEAH!} Kelly and I attended a meeting with AIA Asheville and a member of our city’s planning department on the movement towards changing our zoning to allow more density and housing types in some of our neighborhoods. If interested the presentation can be seen HERE. The city is looking for your input so, also, go HERE and take the survey following. This is your chance to help influence the future of your community. Cheers!

Have you driven by Beaver Lake recently? You might have noticed the new modern home under construction on Merrimon Ave. The home is the vision of local architect Robert Griffin that he has designed for a custom client. The details of the home, including these renderings he sent to us, will be featured in the Fall edition of Carolina Home and Garden magazine. Check it out next month. Cheers and have a great week!

The German philosopher Freidrich von Schelling said, “Architecture is music in space as if it were frozen music” while Plato stated, “Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” Even without knowing it as a young boy I was fascinated by rhythm used in the design of buildings. For me it is the breath of life for most constructions. Here is a photo of my grade school by modern architect Ed Barnes as featured in Life magazine in 1965.

The repetitive massing and lines distinguishing functional volumes, as well as, flooding the spaces with indirect natural light. Other childhood examples included the church by Eliel Saarinen across from our central library and the telephone switching station one block from that.

As human beings we are naturally drawn to experiencing things that are done in a rhythm such as music, dance, poetry; where time and movements are coordinated. Rhythm, or repetition, through design can be generated by a harmonious sequence of structural components, a pattern of masses alternating with voids, a sequence of light alternating with shades or shadows, and alternating colors or textures. Like in music rhythm in design naturally evokes emotion without cognitive awareness. Order and flow create harmony. 

Locally, we have many classic examples. Take a look at our art deco buildings. It is easy to see the breakdown of rhythmical patterns limited to building fenestrations both horizontally and vertically.

Moving to more modern examples I draw from my hikes around UNCA starting with the university’s original building Phillips Hall. Constructed in 1961 and designed by SIX Associates the building layers rhythms experientially as you walk up the stairs and into the interior via its structural columns, window walls, railing and even light placement. There I’m reminded of the Bauhaus interpretation of building as machine. 

One of my favorite contemporary buildings in Asheville is Overlook Hall. Completed in 2012 the facade of this residence hall portrays a more poetic pattern or rhythm that suggests that each individual student has their own unique placement or viewpoint within the mass fabric of being a student on campus. They are both unique and the same at once. 

A more sophisticated residential example is Carlton Architecture’s Slickrock House in the Mountain Air community shown below. There are many complimentary patterns and rhythms working together: standardized structural supports, a roofline emphasizing various volumes of space and light, window mullions and surface patterns. Much like an artist, musician or poet — a designer has to work back and forth balancing the realities of materials and elements with a more intuitive sense of balance and flow until a natural harmony is achieved.

Late architect Michael Graves said, “I see architecture not as Gropius did, as a moral venture, as truth, but as invention, in the same way that poetry or music or painting is invention.” So, the next time you think of a building as static and all engineering based you might want to take a deeper look. Perhaps you might even hear it.

Want to see more modern examples of rhythm in architecture? Yep — we have a Pinterest page for that, too. Have the best Sunday ever. I know we will if you stop and see us at the Flea for Y’all today. Bring an umbrella. Cheers!

Yesterday, I stopped by Lexington Glassworks having strolled past their open door a few times a week on my way to my “go-to” yoga studio Go Yoga. Having arrived a bit too early I decided to finally step into the space. Wow! I had no idea how established of a venue it was. I could always see that the product was well crafted, but the space itself was equally and thoughtfully crafted, too. From layout to detail they have created a mindful experience around glass blowing making it a blend of retail, education and cool social space.

I’ll refrain from saying a whole lot more, but simply encourage you to visit. Their own space and website tells their story better than I so I’ll step back and let them take over. If you haven’t been — GO. They have a beer on tap and a schedule for live music. Cheers!

Hi Folks! It is almost time for the AIA’s Annual Design Awards. I got a peek at all the 40 some regional entries last night at our board meeting. There are some cool designs entered in the competition. The outdoor event is $25 for General Admission which includes beer, wine and heavy nibbles. The 30 minute awards portion will be presented via a cool multi-media projection. Come and enjoy this outdoor ceremony at the City County Plaza. For tickets and information go here. 

Come and join us Modern Mixer crowd. Cheers!