By Connie Bostic
Photos By Stewart O'Shields
In the winter of 1895, George Vanderbilt opened the doors at Biltmore Estate in Asheville. His architectural marvel incorporated many innovations and featured the work of scores of tradesmen and artisans. It also brimmed with art.
The HandMade House at The Ramble in Biltmore Forest looks nothing like "America’s Largest Home," but the builder, Jack Cecil, insists that the houses have a number of similarities: Vanderbilt, he says, "was an early proponent of the concept of sustainability…" So, like Biltmore House, The HandMade House is built with local materials by expert craftsmen and is filled with arts and crafts.
In accord with The Ramble’s focus on sustainability in housing development, the house has geothermal heating and cooling, a rainwater harvesting system, open-cell insulation and water-saving dual-flush toilets. The landscaping is done with mostly native species—all drought tolerant—and there is a rain garden to receive surface run-off. The pavers for the walkways and porches are regional bluestone, and the drive and walkways are all constructed with water-permeable materials.
When it comes to the arts, the residence is far more than a just showcase for regional talents—it was conceived, designed and built as an embodiment of the concept of living with art. Handmade works not only decorate the walls and surfaces, they are incorporated into the master plan.
The home represents a cooperative effort between Biltmore Farms and HandMade in America, a nonprofit organization that nurtures and promotes traditional and contemporary crafts and guides artists in marketing their works.
Architect Jim Samsel and his team were dedicated to identifying opportunities for craftspeople to create works that would be integrated into the house before construction began, rather than having to retro-fit them after the fact—items such as light fixtures, drawer pulls and cabinetry.
Samsel was inspired by English architectural critic John Ruskin, a supporter of the British Arts and Craft Movement of the 1800s. Ruskin railed against the perfection of machine-made goods and championed the idea of "natural, honest imperfection." The motto of England’s chartered Society of Designers in 1896 was: Head, Hand and Heart. "Head" represented their interest in creativity and imagination, "hand," their insistence on skill and "heart," the admirable human qualities of honesty and love.
"A big difference in the HandMade House and an ordinary designer house," says Samsel, "is that in the HandMade House, the same team oversaw the entire project. There was no competition. It is cohesive, not just a hodgepodge of different ideas."
Both Samsel and Jenny Moore, associate director of HandMade in America, found that the process was a learning experience for them—and for the artists involved. The artists were chosen from HandMade’s online crafts registry. "This registry," Moore says, "is free to any practicing craftsperson."
More than 650 artisans are listed in the registry and all who worked in appropriate categories (about 75 percent) were invited to submit proposals for the HandMade House project. More than 100 artists responded.
A team, including interior designer Susan Nilsson, ASID, reviewed the proposals and adopted a slogan: "No artist left behind!" They made selections—sometimes choosing a particular artist, but not the specific work submitted. "We took the floor plan," says Nilsson, "and were determined to include something from every artist who had gone to all the trouble to present a proposal. About a quarter of the proposed ideas were used as originally submitted. I worked individually with the others to assist them in modifying their concepts to fit the house."
In all, 113 artists and craftspeople contributed to the project. The spectrum of work is truly inspiring, ranging from grand gestures like the carved-wood entry door by Gerry Brown, fitted with custom glass by his wife Catharine, and the white-oak stairway by Craig Weis, to more day-to-day items: fireplace accoutrements by blacksmith Lynda Metcalfe, wooden spoons by Jerry Depew and a shower curtain by fiber artist Kathleen Lewis.
Lewis is one of the craftspeople that Nilsson helped to fine-tune her vision. "My plan," says Lewis, "was to make a flat shower curtain with an edge of colorful hand-painted leaves and grommets covered in a fabric to match the tile." Nilsson suggested that the leaves should be a soft camel color and the grommets, chrome, to match the faucets. The collaboration was a smashing success.
Another artist who received guidance is Doug Lapham, best known for creating "wild" light fixtures. His huge chandelier in the living room has a lively botanical theme, but Lapham says, "Susan Nilsson thought that there were enough leaves in the house and asked me to simplify my original design for the dining room." The results are three exquisite hanging fixtures, simple and elegant
Before the HandMade House project, few of the craftsmen had dealt with issues like liability and workers compensation insurance. For many of them, the paperwork proved to be a challenge. Lapham was impressed with the practical assistance he received from Jenny Moore and the staff at HandMade: "I was asked to provide insurance and a letter from an engineer. These were things I had never encountered. The HandMade staff was very helpful."
This sense of shared purpose and vision was important to furniture-maker Desmond Suarez, who crafted a dining set for the breakfast nook. Suarez once manufactured office chairs, but decided seven years ago that he wanted to make things that would be handed down from generation to generation rather than tossed into a landfill. "I believe that people are tired of the same old stamped-out, poor-quality, cheap throw-a-ways," he says. Suarez found the experience of working with such a large group of artists invigorating and inspiring: "It was great to work with so many other artists. We all grew and learned from each other."
The resulting collaboration is a delightful blend of art and lifestyle. Following a public showing of the home, it is being offered for sale, along with the vast majority of the works that were created to enliven and embellish it. While the HandMade House may not be "America’s Largest Home," it will be, for one appreciative homeowner, a castle, nonetheless.
For more information on the HandMade House, visit handmadeinamerica.org. Information about The Ramble can be found at www.biltmorefarms.com.
