91 Baker Ave – Ultra-Modern Net-Zero Home

At 91 Baker Ave in West Asheville, this WNC Green Built Platinum and Net-Zero Certified custom home embodies the future of sustainable design. Developed through a site-responsive process in-house at Nicholson and Sun and completed in close collaboration with the homeowners, every detail reflects both precision and personalization.

The home integrates advanced building science with a 5.3 kW roof-embedded solar array, passive solar heating, and mechanized clerestory windows that create natural stack cooling. An ultra-tight envelope with virtually no thermal bridging ensures exceptional energy performance, complemented by an Energy Star–rated heat pump water heater (E-factor 4.3) and ventless heat pump dryer.

Sustainability extends beyond efficiency—trees removed from the site were milled for use in this and future homes, and finishes feature low-embodied-energy, earth-friendly materials. Inside, Andersen Energy Star certified windows, exposed beams, and whitewashed 10-foot ceilings elevate the modern open-plan design, pairing natural light with high-end, ultra-modern finishes.

The result is a home that balances performance, craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility, while remaining deeply attuned to the lifestyle and vision of its owners.