Biophilic Design Feature in Green Building Directory
The 2020 Green Building Directory from Green Built Alliance features an article about biophilic design written by one of our staff members, Margaret Chandler. Biophilic design is a design principal used to reinforce connectivity to nature inside a building through thoughtful space planning. The feature details our approach to biophilic office design in our renovation of Eagles Nest Outfitters headquarters in East Asheville. From the article: "The opportunities for biophilic architecture in an industrial office park are not as limited as they might seem. Eagles Nest Outfitters, an Asheville-based outdoor company also known as ENO, had outgrown their downtown Asheville location and
Are you “BearWise?”
While we humans have been spending more time at home because of the pandemic, the wildlife in Western North Carolina has been venturing out more into our public spaces. Black bears roam our neighborhood streets and are even in the streets of downtown Asheville. Existing safely alongside black bears is part of living and working in our region and we must be thoughtful about maintaining our homes and job sites. The organization BearWise is dedicated to helping people live responsibly with black bears. Our client, Janet Winemiller, is an ambassador for the program and was recently interviewed about her involvement (you
Samsel Architects Voted Best in WNC for Sixth Year
2018 is the sixth year in a row that Samsel Architects has been voted Western North Carolina’s #1 architect in the MountainX Best Of Poll! Our studio has been working in WNC since 1985. A key part of our design philosophy is incorporating the unique character of Asheville and our mountain region into every project. We appreciate the vote of support from our community. Thank you, Asheville and Mountain Xpress!
USModernist teams with Architectural Record to provide access to magazine archives
122 years of Architectural Record is now available online at the USModernist Library. Architectural Record and USModernist announced their partnership earlier this month. The magazine has been a leading publication for design professionals since it first published in 1891. USModernist Library hosts a vast digital archive of architectural magazines and modernist architects throughout the US. Partnerships like this are important to preserve architectural history and promote the profession and appreciation of the architecture field. George Smart, founder of USModernist, says “Adding Architectural Record’s archives into our library gives the public an incredible resource of history and information about nearly every building
West Asheville Project Wins Fine Homebuilding Award
Our project in West Asheville was just named 2018's Best Small Home by Fine Homebuilding Magazine. We really love how this project turned out and are so proud to see it published in the magazine! Read more about this project in the 2018 Houses edition of Fine Homebuilding magazine or online at finehomebuilding.com. More about this project This home sits on a ⅛ acre infill lot just 1 block from the Haywood Road commercial district. With only 840 square feet, space optimization is key. Each room houses multiple functions, and storage space is integrated into every possible location. In the kitchen, simple,
Mill Spring Residence Featured in Carolina Home + Garden
The current edition of Carolina Home + Garden features our Mill Spring project on the cover! Pick up a copy of the magazine today or see the article online here. We really loved working on this project and are happy to see it in print. See more photos of this project here. More about the project This light-filled modern farmhouse in Mill Spring, North Carolina serves as a relaxing refuge for its owners. The home is tucked in the countryside on a horse farm with rolling pastures and beautiful mountain landscape. Our clients wanted a home that would be cozy for them and
Craven Gap earns NC first Living Building Net-Zero Certification
Our Craven Gap Residence has become the first home in North Carolina to earn Zero Energy certification from the International Living Future Institute. Part of the Living Building Challenge, Zero Energy Certification is the most ambitious of all energy certifications, requiring actual, rather than modeled, performance. This means to receive certification, the Craven Gap residence had to be operational for at least twelve consecutive months prior to evaluation. “Energy efficiency has come a long way the past 20 years, and zero energy buildings are the new goal,” said Duncan McPherson, Principal of Samsel Architects and lead architect on the project. “The
Lakeside Cabin Featured in Carolina Home + Garden
The current edition of Carolina Home + Garden features one of our newest projects at Lake James. A young family recently came to us with a vision for a simple, yet elegant cabin in the woods. The property they chose is deep in the woods and boasts lake views and a wooded setting. The two key goals expressed by the owners for their home were adaptability and expandability. They wanted this home to feel comfortable whether there were two people there or ten. The result is a cozy getaway that nestles into the forest parallel to the existing topography. The form
Samsel Architects featured in Green Built Alliance Directory
The 2017 Green Built Alliance Directory hit newsstands recently and includes a feature written by one of our own, Margaret Chandler. The article details how our office put together a sustainable action plan following the installation of a solar panels on our roof. After the panels were installed, we wrote a Sustainability Statement, a formal policy that outlines our studio’s commitment to a more sustainable future. This policy guides our employees on their day-to-day in order to raise their awareness of our environmental impact. It includes recycling and composting, and an office supply purchasing policy that favors local products. We
Old Fort Cabin Featured in Book
Our Old Fort Cabin is featured in a brand new book called The Family Cabin by Dale Mulfinger. The book is a 300-page collection of cabins throughout North America and stories from the families that live in them. We and our clients are happy to be chosen to be part of the book. It is available from Taunton Press or can be ordered on Amazon. Old Fort Cabin The homeowners of this cabin are passionate about fly-fishing, so when they found property with a designated trout stream, it was a natural fit. We developed a design that allows them to experience both