| In Western North Carolina there is a long tradition of | | | | frame that adorns the community's center. |
| handmade crafts. This dates back to when the first | | | | Appalachian Mountain Climate Provides Perfect |
| settlers arrived in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the late | | | | Setting |
| 1600s. As industry grew and communities developed, | | | | The Blue Ridge Mountains from Macon to Madison |
| a more diverse group of crafts evolved. | | | | and Haywood to Rutherford counties have the |
| As a result, crafts have always had influence on the | | | | perfect climate, elevation and natural wonders. These |
| economic success of Western North Carolina. In fact, | | | | settings provide the ideal atmosphere for crafts |
| the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State | | | | artists and conscientious builders to work together to |
| University decided to research how crafts and the | | | | create homes that naturally fit into this beautiful and |
| economy were related in the mountains of Western | | | | unique environment. |
| North Carolina. Twenty counties were studied and | | | | The North Carolina mountain real estate and building |
| research revealed that the craft industry thrives in | | | | market is a new business venue for craft artisans |
| every county. Craft production and selling is so vital | | | | and they are leaning to navigate the waters. |
| to the Western North Carolina economy that without | | | | City of Asheville: Craft Campus and Businesses |
| it, the region could not prosper. | | | | Certifications Planned |
| And, while money is important, it's not the bottom | | | | Plans to develop a Craft campus at the University of |
| line. The handicraft industry is the soul of the region | | | | North Carolina at Asheville are in the works. It will |
| and the craft industry has a civilizing influence that | | | | serve as a national model for green building and add |
| enriches the lives of local residents and visitors. That's | | | | to the region's growing craft economy which |
| why builders and craft artisans are developing ways | | | | generates approximately $144 million a year in |
| to work together to weave a true sense of place | | | | Western North Carolina. Visitors will learn about the |
| into the fabric of our environments and dwellings. | | | | cultural heritage and economic impact of craft in |
| Crafts and NC Mountain Real Estate | | | | Western North Carolina. |
| In the 1900s, arts and crafts-style homes began | | | | In addition to Buncombe County, collaborators include: |
| surfacing in the U.S. And, examples of these homes | | | | Penland School of Crafts, HandMade in America, the |
| are present in and around the Asheville area. | | | | Western North Carolina Green Building Council, the |
| Asheville, NC is an epicenter for crafts in the | | | | Energy Xchange in Yancey County, and the Center |
| Appalachian Mountains and is home to one of the | | | | for Craft, Creativity and Design in Hendersonville; it's |
| most-recognized craft guilds in the country -- the | | | | expected to open in 2011. |
| Southern Highlands Craft Guild. The area's relationship | | | | HandMade in America and A-B Tech are also |
| between builders and craft artisans dates back to | | | | partnering to present a craft in the building industry |
| the late 1800s when George W. Vanderbilt built the | | | | certification program. As part of HandMade in |
| magnificent Biltmore Estate. Today, that same | | | | America's new craft, architecture and design |
| relationship continues to exist. | | | | program, HandMade and A-B Tech are collaborating |
| A modern-day development, Whisper Mountain, | | | | to offer a certification workshop for craft artists |
| located between Leicester and Hot Springs in Madison | | | | who want to expand their businesses by producing |
| County is a prime example of how builders and | | | | custom work for the construction and design |
| crafters can work together. The development | | | | industries for North Carolina mountain homes. |
| combines regional influences into overall building plans | | | | "This workshop grew out of interviews that |
| and designs. | | | | HandMade conducted with artists, architects, interior |
| "The combination of local crafts with cutting-edge | | | | designers, and builders," Jenny Moore, Associate |
| green building technology is why our houses are | | | | Director and program Coordinator, explained. "Artists |
| homes ... homes with a piece of the past and a part | | | | wanted to know how to navigate this new market. |
| of the future," Charlie Ball, Whisper Mountain | | | | Building and design practitioners wanted to know that |
| developer said. | | | | the artists they commissioned understood the basics |
| This building philosophy is evident in the construction | | | | of building codes, reading blueprints and the demands |
| of their Sky Valley Lodge with natural-braced timber | | | | of a construction schedule. |