Fairview build forges connection between land and home
Photo by Keith Isaacs
When topography talks, architecture listens. At least, that’s the principle underpinning the design of this modern mountain home in Fairview’s Southcliff community.
Situated at 3,900 feet, the site offers sweeping northeast views of the Black Mountains — and no shortage of construction challenges. According to Chad Harding of Harding Huebner Architects, the high-elevation property falls within Buncombe County’s steep slope and protected ridge zoning overlay, which imposes strict limits on how the land can be developed.
“With these mountainous properties, many different factors affect what we’re able to build,” says Harding, who worked in close collaboration with landscape architect Rob Dull of Find The Line Studios. Together, the men devised a site-development plan that met county requirements “without compromising the function or form of the finished product,” says Dull.
That finished product is a study in thoughtful integration. A U-shaped layout anchors the home into the terrain, with two wings of private living space bridged by a great room. Tucking the house into the land gives it a sense of inevitability — as if it was meant to be there all along, says Harding.
“We try to play with these concepts of prospect and refuge,” the architect explains. “You don’t always want a house that’s singing bravado. It’s really nice when you can find the quietness of feeling contained.”
The home’s placement also protects the structure from wind — a sensible adaptation to the site’s elevation.
“These high-elevation properties are subject to much more intense weather patterns than those mid-slope on the mountain: higher wind exposure, more temperature fluctuations, and slower forest growth patterns,” says Dull.
With similar practicalities in mind, the exterior calls on durable materials like board-formed concrete, glass, and sassafras siding. Meanwhile, an angled roof responds to the natural contours of the site. “We pitched the roof to the trees so that when you’re in the house, you can look up and feel that connection to the canopy,” Harding explains.
For the lady of the home, an avid hiker who spent years exploring the Santa Monica Mountains of California before relocating to Asheville for her husband’s biotech job, a deep connection to the surrounding landscape was essential. “I love being outdoors, so I wanted a home nestled in nature,” she says.
Inside the house, the design strikes a careful balance between minimalism and warmth, says Brooke Kern of Kern Interior Design. White-oak ceilings and floors ground the space in natural texture, while steel elements — one of the husband’s must-haves — introduce industrial elegance.
“My goal,” says Kern, “was to create a unique and inviting interior that would honor the landscape and architecture while providing a gathering place for the clients’ family and friends.”
Kern and others involved in the construction process certainly delivered.
“It was an amazing build for amazing clients,” says general contractor Hans Doellgast of Jade Mountain Builders. “This is truly one of the homes I’m most proud of.”
The lady of the home is equally proud. “Every morning,” she says, “I wake up and give thanks for this space.”
Periodic Table
In the great room, a 10-foot white-oak dining table designed by architect Chad Harding and crafted by Bryan Kerr of Kerr Woodworking softens the home’s industrial elements. “Because of the use of concrete, glass, and steel, Chad wanted more natural-looking materials for this project,” says Kerr. Surrounding the table are Wishbone Chairs by Carl Hansen & Søn. The white-oak floors are from Arbor Zen. Overhead, pendants by Kuzco Lighting cast a soft glow.
Heart(h) of the Home
The living room centers around a custom concrete hearth by Hardcore Concrete Designs. Matching chairs by designer Maria Yee (sourced from Four Corners Home) offer extra seating for the homeowners’ seven adult children when they visit. “We wanted a space where we could see and talk to each other, even if we’re all doing different things,” says their mother.
A Forest of Neutrals
In the primary bedroom, walnut furniture from Four Corners Home blends seamlessly with a neutral palette, while the “Womb Chair” by Knoll offers a comfortable spot to soak up forest views. The sculptural installation above the bed is from the “Wall Play” collection by Gold Leaf Design Group, says the project’s interior designer Brooke Kern.
“Prospect and Refuge”
Off the living room, a deck with an outdoor fireplace featuring decorative steel details by Daniel Marinelli of OK Goods offers year-round comfort and seamless access to the outdoors. “I pretty much lived outside year-round in California, so outdoor space was important,” says the lady of the home. Architect Chad Harding designs from an organizing notion of “prospect and refuge,” where drama is tempered by an organic livability.
Seasonally Sound
Designed by architect Chad Harding and crafted by Bryan Kerr of Kerr Woodworking, the walnut coffee table in the living room balances sculptural presence with quiet utility. “We talked through how to execute the fabrication of [Chad’s] design in a way that allows the wood to expand and contract seasonally and still stand the test of time, both aesthetically and structurally,” says Kerr. The cantilevered form complements the Italian leather sofa (Four Corners Home) and Eames lounge chair and ottoman (Herman Miller).
Resources:
Architect: Chard Harding, Harding Huebner Architects (Asheville)
Builder: Hans Doellgast, Jade Mountain Builders (Asheville)
Landscape Architect: Rob Dull, Find The Line Studios (Asheville)
Interior Designer: Brooke Kern, Brooke Kern Interior Design (Asheville)
Cabinetry: Custom Living Quarters (Fletcher)
Countertops: Mountain Marble (Asheville)
Tile: Crossville Studios (Fletcher)
Custom Dining and Coffee Table: Bryan Kerr, Kerr Woodworking (Asheville)
Doors and Windows: Kolbe Windows and Doors (Wisconsin)
Decorative Steel: Daniel Marinelli, OK Goods (Taylors, South Carolina)
Custom Concrete Hearth: Hardcore Concrete Designs (Weaverville)
Custom Entry Door: Lou Gargiulo, Loud Woodwork (Asheville)
Flooring: Arbor Zen Hardwood Floors (Black Mountain)