North Asheville Guesthouse

The 700 square foot guesthouse is in the historic area of North Asheville located on Merrimon Avenue with an unobstructed view of Beaver Lake. The Guesthouse is the second of a two phase renovation and addition to an early 1900’s bungalow.

The projet is to accommodate two cars at the lower level with the upper level living to be flexible in its use, be it as a short-term rental, long term living for an aging mother or as the home office “outside” of the home. The second level is accessed from below via stair that follows the lines of cross bracing integral to a box truss frame. once at the second level, the deck and living space have direct access to the sloped garden at the back of the house mediating a steep differential in the existing topography while also providing privacy for the user and the owners in the main house..

The primary structure is exposed heavy timber douglass fir glulams with custom steel concealed brackets to create a large box truss for multiple cantilevers off of a minimal and limited area available at the base support. This rigid structural frame will rest upon a stacked heavy timber 6×6 base as derived from an existing timber retaining wall on site. Between the carport and the retained earth of the existing site will be a small potting ‘shed’ and storage area. The exterior is clad with 2×4 select cypress slats and siding to match the president established by Phase 1.