Through the Years: Residential Projects 2
2020 marks thirty-five years for our firm and we have decades of past work that won’t fit on our website. This summer we are digging through our archives and looking back at the evolution of our work since opening our doors in 1985. This is the second installment of our past residential projects. You can see the first installment here. Check back soon for the next installment.
Through the Years: Residential Projects 1
2020 marks thirty-five years for our firm and we have decades of past work that won’t fit on our website. So, this summer, we are digging through our archives and looking back at the evolution of our work since opening our doors in 1985. Today we take a glimpse at some of our past residential projects. Check back soon for even more of our project archives.
27 Biltmore Patio Life
Part of our commitment to adaptive reuse is to re-imagine old buildings and to breathe new life into neglected spaces. The owner of 27 Biltmore Avenue contacted Samsel Architects to help convert their building, which used to house Hannah Flanagan’s Irish Pub, into a restaurant, several retail and office spaces, and private apartments. The street-level tenant, Manicomio Pizza, asked us to develop the outdoor patio into a space for their patrons to enjoy al fresco dining. The owner wanted to “make it a place where people can bring their kids and pets or just come and chat with friends over
35th Anniversary: Hospitality Projects Through the Years
2020 marks thirty-five years for our firm. Since our founding, we have worked on hundreds of projects of many types throughout the Southern Appalachian region. This summer, we are reviewing the evolution of our projects since opening our doors in 1985. Today we take a glimpse at a handful of our hospitality and educational projects, from the EcoDorm - the US’s first LEED Platinum certified dormitory building, to a luxe resort in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Chapel Hill Renovation Revisited
We are getting near the end of May, which means National Preservation Month is almost over. To continue our celebration, today we revisit our historic Chapel Hill Renovation. This Dutch Colonial was originally built in the 1933 and is located in one of Chapel Hill’s historic districts. From the street view, the home maintained much of its original character. Away from the street, a former rear service porch had been altered and enclosed. That area become the primary focus of the exterior changes. The altered porch zone was removed and a new two-story addition was added in the style of the
Center for Craft Renovation wins 2020 Griffin Award
Our renovation at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville has won a 2020 Griffin Award from The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County. 67 Broadway is home to Center for Craft’s National Craft Innovation Hub. This is the 17th Griffin Award for our studio since we opened the doors in 1985. The Center for Craft headquarters is in a historic four-story brick structure that was built in 1912. We worked with Center for Craft to renovate the building, maintain its historic certification and highlight the beauty of its existing structural systems. Breathing new life into three of the building’s four stories,
Modern Cottage in Biltmore Forest
This woodland cottage, located in the Town of Biltmore Forest, near Asheville, North Carolina and the landmark Biltmore Estate, is modern in its construction while holding true to historic examples in the area. From the first glimpse of the exterior through the trees, the house appears as if it has always been there. In response to our client’s request that the house not appear dominant or outwardly showy, we rotated the home’s linear footprint to greet guests with its shortest façade, presenting the impression of a small cottage. The design of the house alludes to the countryside homes of C.F.A. Voysey,
Downtown Apartment Renovation Revisited
May is National Preservation Month, and to celebrate we are revisiting one of our historic renovation projects in Downtown Asheville. This apartment is on the top level of a 1905 building that is on the National Register of Historic Places. For our renovation, we redesigned the cramped interior to be open and modern while still preserving the historic charm of the granite building. To learn more about Preservation Month, you can visit The National Trust for Historic Preservation. This month, they have virtual tours of important landmarks across the US. You can also visit and learn from our local society, The
Sunsets and Sazeracs at Black Mountain Renovation
Breathing new life into existing homes is a source of inspiration for us and our clients. We were happy to hear from our client about the joy their re-imagined spaces have given them through the Coronavirus pandemic. The value of a beautiful home is keenly evident right now. Our clients wanted to update their 1920s stone home in Black Mountain by bringing more light into the home and capturing the view of the nearby Craggy Gardens. The clients envision spending several more decades in the house and challenged us to make the home easier to navigate with open gathering spaces and