Installing Gable Trusses in Tennessee
Large gable trusses are a prominent design feature of our Jonesborough, Tennessee residence. Made from white oak timbers, these dramatic trusses adorn both the front and back facades of the home. Handmade and installed by Carolina Timberworks, each truss weighs in at 2,400 pounds and required a crane to lift into place. On installation day, Carolina Timberworks filmed video of the process, which can be seen in the video below. Timbers will be installed at the front and rear porches to reinforce the design element across the entire house facade. Timbers will also be prominently featured in the home's interior,
The Craven Gap Residence: Modern Passive Solar Home
Our clients came to us after purchasing five acres of steep mountain land with great views looking down the Beaverdam Valley. Avid hikers and mountain bikers, they bought the land in part because of access to nearby trails and proximity to downtown Asheville. In addition, the south-facing slope allowed them to build the energy efficient, modern passive solar home they had been dreaming of. We started our process by studying the character of the land and exploring several site design concepts and basic house layouts. The very steep slope required significant retaining walls so we developed a narrow floor plan that
Samsel Architects Voted #1 in WNC for Third Straight Year
For the third year in a row, Samsel Architects has the honor of being voted Western North Carolina’s #1 architect in the Mountain Xpress Best Of Poll. Samsel Architects has been designing timeless buildings for 30 years. Our design philosophy reflects the unique character of Asheville and our mountain landscape by connecting architecture to our natural environment and incorporating green building techniques into every project. We look forward to serving our community and providing timeless designs for many years to come. Thank you, Asheville!
Update on Modern Pavilion House in Tryon
One year ago this month, we revealed the design concept for a modern pavilion house outside of Tryon, North Carolina. The house is located on a 40-acre farm that has remarkable mountain views and land dotted with towering old growth oak trees. It was important to locate and organize the house so the owners would get spectacular views without compromising the health of the large oak trees on the property. The result is an “L” shaped house designed around the trees with plenty of windows to connect the indoor living space to the outdoors. In the year since, we have