Tag Archives: city

Modern Monday

Posted on November 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

At our Modern Mixer this past Saturday I was asked if I could find this post from the past. So, without anything further…here you go. Have a wonderful holiday week.

Designing Our Future | How to Make and Attractive City | I came across this video this morning and wanted to share it. While it makes some good points I don’t necessarily agree with everything Alain says here. I appreciate the overall thinking and would love for us to follow a more European model with our urban growth.

His sixth point does hit home to me as we watch most of our newest construction coming from outside influences bringing corporate brands to Asheville blurring our unique identity. My question for us as a community is how can we accommodate this important growth while constructing buildings that are filtered by the values of Asheville itself? What is important to us? How do we maintain our own sense of place that has attracted us all to live and travel here? Think about it. Cheers! Troy

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged architecture, asheville, city, contemporary, design, modern, planning

Sunday Morning Modern | Danish Living

Posted on November 13, 2016 | Leave a comment

Less Charlotte More Copenhagen | As a designer, realtor and resident of Asheville I have had fantasies that the development of our city was influenced by more European lifestyle models, as opposed to, American ones.

I’m not alone in this thinking given multiple conversations with business partners, friends and neighbors. I’m particularly drawn to the design, cultural and sustainable influences of Scandinavian countries. Many times I’ve attempted to capture these thoughts over the years, but have found these articles by Build LLC out of Seattle that seem to pick up on the spirit of our combined thinking.

“The principles that the Danes operate with and the philosophy that they exude seem to make for an ideal environment — a deliberate environment. What we learned about life and design while living in Scandinavia influences every house we design and every dinner party we throw”

As you read through these two articles, Studies, Scandinavia & Schnapps & 10 Things We Learned in Scandinavia, think about how it could apply to both the environment, culture and spirit of the city we love and the evolution into our shared future. How do you want to live and what do you want us to become? And for some cool visuals visit our Pinterest page here. Proost!

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged architecture, asheville, city, contemporary, danish, design, home, house, modern, scandinavian, urban

Designing Our Future | 011

Posted on March 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

Thanks to Kelly for sending me this video. There are some really beautiful points within this that offer us good perspective of the development of our own beloved Asheville. It is worth the fourteen minutes to watch.

What Makes a City Attractive? Try These 6 Points. Challenging the notion that beauty is subjective, Alain de Botton has made a case for attractive cities, believing that a city’s beauty is key to its success and citizens’ quality of life. The Swiss philosopher, author and founder of London’s The School of Life believes that attractiveness is the primary reason why many choose to vacation to Paris, and not Frankfurt.

“We think beauty is subjective, and so no one should say anything about it,” says Botton. “It’s a very understandable qualm, but it’s also horribly useful to greedy property developers.”

So, what makes a city attractive? Find out Botton’s six points for beautiful cities. Watch the video here. Cheers!

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Posted in Asheville | Designing Our Future

Tagged asheville, city, construction, design, development, downtown, home, house, modern, new, planning

Designing Our Future #10 | Faking It

Posted on February 22, 2016 | 1 comment

Why Asheville Needs New Design Guidelines

Thanks to our colleague for pointing out this article to us by Laura Berner Hudson who serves on the Planning Commission. The article in Mountain Xpress reflects some of our sentiments here, but she expresses our need to better our city’s design criteria so much better — so let’s let her take over the dialogue. Click here for the article. Cheers!

Laura says,”When serious, authentic architecture is rejected in favor of simulacra, we exchange reality for a mythical past where everything is made to resemble what might have been. In turn, we blur the boundary between copies and genuine history. It is the elaboration of continuously changing ideas that makes a city truly authentic, and if we don’t embrace this vitality and diversity, we risk becoming a generic, theme park version of what we never were instead of an authentic manifestation of who we truly are.”

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Posted in Hotels, Modern Architecture and Interiors, Office Buildings and Commercial

Tagged architecture, asheville, building, city, contemporary, design, downtown, home, house, modern, planning

Open Houses Today

Posted on September 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

2 Urban “Hudson Valley Style” Farmhouses

Hi Folks. Modern Asheville Real Estate is having a Broker Open House today, but if you are a buyer and have an interest in an artistic, vintage style farmhouse similar to a find in Hudson Valley, NY — stop by and see us today for lunch! 35 Wayside Rd. and 72 Wayside Rd. are centrally located just on the other side of the mountain from downtown. They offer a charming and creative escape with the potential for your own little urban homestead. Both properties our private with mountain views while having everything you need just down the hill. Last, they offer potential for extra buildings lots as well. Stop by and check them out from noon until 2pm today, Tuesday the 22nd. See you there!

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Posted in Asheville Modern Events

Tagged asheville, city, farmhouse, for sale, home, house, mountain view, Real Estate, urban

Designing Our Future | Architecture At Home In It’s Community

Posted on June 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

Continuing on this series inspired by the new construction going on in Asheville, I’m posting a new seven minute video I watched today from an architect working in Africa and how he draws from the surrounding community to create designs for new public buildings. Please watch or click on link if it doesn’t show.

https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/xavier_vilalta_architecture_at_home_in_its_community.html

As a designer, realtor and resident of Asheville I’m conscious of the changes occurring with our built environment. Kelly, myself and our chosen families frequently witness discussions by both designers and citizens regarding the new hotels, apartments and commercial structures that are stamped out and replicated here identical to other cities. What do these new constructions say about Asheville that is different than Charlotte or Tampa as examples?

We moved here because Asheville is incredibly rich in geography, history, spirituality, creative talent, environmental consciousness and an independent desire to do things differently. I wonder what our buildings could be doing that help steward our town into its own future inspired by what is here and what is important to our community today and for the future. Think about it. Cheers!

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Posted in Asheville | Designing Our Future

Tagged architecture, asheville, city, community, design, downtown, future, modern, new, urban

Under Construction – Ciel’s the “Bower House”

Posted on January 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Incredible views and modern living combine to create a sexy, new escape in the mountains. The community of Ciel which offers mountain and city views of Asheville is breaking ground on a dramatic new contemporary spec home. Designed by Hunter Paul Coffey of Boone, NC, this 3500 sq/ft, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home will combine both earthy and modern materials to fully dramatize Ciel’s tagline “Feel the earth. Touch the sky”

As you enter the front door you cross an interior bridge that focuses your view directly on Mt. Pisgah. The main level splits to feature all your open living spaces on one side and a grand master suite on the other. For those who want one level living this floor has everything you need to accomodate. For those who need more you can descend to the lower level to find another family room with fireplace and 3 bedrooms/offices that all have views.

The exterior will be finished off with cedar siding in both 1 x4 and 1 x 10 sections along with areas of dry stacked stone. The roof will be wide standing seam. The transitional glazing from inside to outside will be made with Lincoln “Touch” windows. The foyer will will have a retractable glass wall to the outide deck with fireplace.

The interior will feature oak flooring throughout and custom walnut cabinets. Lux is doing the lighting design and fixture specifications.

As with all Ciel homes this contemporary will be NC HealthyBuilt. It will include features such as Low E glass, passive solar considerations, rain water retention and a gravel drive. The house will sell for 1.6 million when completed. Stay posted as I will be posting updates on the construction of this home.