Unique Properties
By Susmita Baral
Buckhead Home Sells For $9 Million
In one of Atlanta’s most sought-after ZIP codes, an architecturally distinctive estate at 981 Davis Drive recently sold for $9 million, making it the most expensive Atlanta home sale this year to date.
The property listed for $10 million and earned the Schutze Award in 2008 from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America. Bill Becker of Harry Norman, Realtors, represented the buyer in the sale.
Designed by renowned architectural firm Historical Concepts, the 2.4-acre property originally encompassed a 1950s ranch home that underwent a complete renovation over the course of three years between 2003 and 2006. The previous owners had a vision for a comfortable and relaxing home for their family that also would be ideal for hosting large parties, gatherings and events.
The result was a gracious 16,000-square-foot residence with seven bedrooms and seven full and three half baths. The estate boasts a front and back courtyard, large rooms with high ceilings, a two-bedroom guesthouse and plenty of open spaces for entertaining. Amenities include a four-plus-car garage, a wine cellar, exercise and billiards areas and a kitchen with a timber-framed ceiling and an island topped with antique wood.
Stylistically speaking, the residence is a marriage between two historical styles. It incorporates a Beaux Arts style that is commonly found in New York and Newport, R.I., and refined classical elements from the Second Italian Renaissance Revival, traditionally seen in homes throughout Northern Italy and Central Europe.
Timber Homes That Are Sustainable, Efficient and Elegant
In British Columbia, Canada, one developer is turning timber into luxury. Hamill Creek’s new Timber Homes are made with wood that is ethically harvested and responsibly assembled using building techniques that minimize the impact on the environment, and, as a result, are sustainable and energy efficient.
British Columbia, a key source of timber woods, is setting the bar high in preserving natural resources. Canada allows for less than 1 percent of the country’s lush forest to be harvested and mandates that logged areas be regenerated immediately. The government’s stringent guidelines and calculations ensure that their forests are sustainable for the future.
Dwight Smith, founder of Hamill Creek Timber Homes, reveals that in addition to using timber wood, his company is including many environmentally friendly features, including geothermal heating, super insulation, rainwater recovery and landscaping with a low water demand. “We are planning and building everything in an environmentally sensitive way, and that lends itself to highly sustainable building practices,” says Smith.
Hamill Creek Timber Homes vary in price based on square footage, starting as low as $115,650 for a 514-square-foot home and reaching in excess of $3.2 million for a 10,710-square-foot home; price includes labor and may vary with materials you choose.
