Asheville Housing Prototype 01
Asheville, North Carolina

The AVL Prototype: Defiant Architecture for Everyday Lives

Born from the 2008 economic crisis, the AVL Prototype is a mission to democratize exceptional design, rejecting the copy-paste architecture dominating Asheville. We refuse the notion that high design requires deep pockets. This is not a one-size-fits-all box, but a flexible, site-specific philosophy celebrating the radical individuality of both the land and its inhabitants.

Instead of repeatable forms, we utilize repeatable, innovative details. Because no single "silver bullet" exists for prefabrication, each home dynamically deploys the most resourceful methods available—combining Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), off-site panelization, or modular plumbing cores. This hybrid agility pivots based on local resources, granting custom autonomy without the custom price tag.

The prototype challenges users to let the house act as the furniture rather than a container for "stuff." While the footprint is reduced, the spatial experience is vast. Floor-to-ceiling glass on the narrow axes dissolves the sense of enclosure, while upward-acting, hanger-style windows on the long facades lift to form an outdoor canopy, expanding the interior into nature even during a mountain rain.

Inspired by the historic Sears Roebuck house, Rm100 Architects aims to scale this high-performance architecture beyond Western North Carolina. By exploring flat-pack shipping methods and collaborating with local fabricators, the AVL Prototype stands as a scalable, flexible architecture grounded in reality.



Construction Documents - Floor Plans for Split Level Scheme


Construction Documents - Exterior Elevations for Split Level Scheme


Construction Documents - Building Sections for Split Level Scheme


Sketchbook - Exploration of split-level prototype variables

Sketchbook - Single level prototype floor plan variables



Early Process Development - Cross section & Isometric massing studies



Formn Variables Study