Q&A: A developer’­s perspectiv­e on value of conservati­on

Andy Baker has spent the last 17 years building a home for himself, his family and many others through his development projects in Western North Carolina. Originally from Michigan, Baker graduated from Purdue University with a degree in forestry before pursuing a career in real estate development. Earlier this year, the Southeast Regional Land Conservancy […]

Future shock: Designing climate-resilient buildings

An upcoming conference gives Asheville a lead role in efforts to integrate the latest climate science into the hands-on practices of architects, builders and others. “Climate Resilient Design in the Southeast,” happening Friday, Nov. 6, at the U.S. Cellular Center, brings together an impressive array of acclaimed scientists and other professionals. They’ll discuss climate-resilient building […]

The art of building

Asheville experienced much growth in the 20th century, preserved in a wonderful architectural legacy (particularly arts and crafts and art deco). Since moving here in 2005, I’ve joined like-minded folks in exploring and appreciating this rich heritage. But it was spending time in a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Chicago that awakened my interest in […]

Lost and found

After many years of visiting from New Orleans, we arrived in Asheville in September of 1981, finally ready to make it our home. Once again we were struck by the skeletal remains of a once-vibrant city now barely connected to its illustrious past, except for a mishmash of glorious but unkempt early-20th-century architecture. But even […]