An urgent defense of aesthetics and the power of art
#2930367 in eBooks 2013-12-01 2013-12-01File Name: B00H5B9X50
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Ever wonder what makes Asheville so special?By Jon L AlbeeAsheville; North Carolina gets a LOT of hype. Lets think about it for a minute.Its a small city with a rich history; set in a geographic wonderland between the Black and Great Smoky Mountains. The Appalachian Trail runs through; as does the Blue Ridge Parkway. The combination of its western location and its relatively high elevation (about 2;200 feet above sea level) means the weather is picture-perfect for ALL four seasons. Close to skiing; biking; hiking; boating not to mention in-town diversions such as seven operating breweries; an active theatre; multiple (and diverse) music venues; hip cafes and a thriving culinary scene; a branch of the University of North Carolina; and you have a miniature Austin tucked away in the mountains of North Carolina.Then; of course; theres the incredible architecture. Thats what this book is all about. The author has chosen about 100 of the most noteworthy sites in Asheville and given us exhaustive treatment of each of them. The famous Biltmore House and The Grove Park Inn are included.Ashevilles architecture isnt particularly old; nor is it particularly modern. What makes the architecture so lovely is its continuity. Theres a lovely mixture of styles and examples from about 1860 to 1930 that blend together to make a breath-taking ensemble. Its as if the city built itself up until about 1930; and stopped; leaving itself in a nearly perfect state of preservation. Parts of Asheville remind me very much of Pioneer Square in Seattle.Each entry includes a nice monochrome photograph and an extensive history of the structure. There are few maps or diagrams.I recommend this book to architectural historians as a piece to enjoy rather than as a research work; and I highly recommend it to enthusiastic amateurs and architectural travelers.Sadly; I learned about the demise of the awesome Richmond Hill Inn (entry No. 41) from this book. What a magnificent landmark it was!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Asheviles rich architectual heritageBy Barry T. MillerAsheville is a remarkable city; richly adorned with classic architecture rarely found in the construction of modern buildings. Visiting the city after reading Richard Hansleys book; youll be forever looking upward to view and appreciate each buildings architectural detail and beauty; knowing in advance the stories behind their creation and creator.
