River Row Flats

Located just across the street from New Belgium Brewery and the scenic French Broad River, River Row Flats is a one-of-a-kind micro-hotel that recently opened in Asheville, NC. At 12,000 SF and 3-stories, the building houses 15 units meant to rent through Airbnb or Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO). This unique concept is a first for the area and provides short-term rentals with access to full-service amenities for tourists who want to be in close proximity to river activities, biking, and beer tasting.

Much like a traditional hotel, each unit features the same interior layout. MPS utilized LVT hardwood flooring throughout and granite counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms to maintain consistency. The design team also incorporated a boxed ceiling element over the kitchens, painted with a different accent color on each floor. The upper units feature Juliet balconies with sliding doors to maximize the beautiful view of the French Broad River. There is also a separate common room that includes self-service washer and dryer units, as well as a private laundry facility for housekeeping.

The exterior was designed to match the industrial aesthetic of the surrounding area by using Corten steel panels on the street-facing side. These panels are meant to rust and will eventually protect the steel from weather and age. The remainder of the building features Hardie board panel arranged in a variety of styles to give it a more unique look. The City of Asheville required that the building resemble townhomes and engage the sidewalk in a more pedestrian friendly way. To meet this requirement, our team pushed the building as close to the sidewalk as possible and incorporated stoops and an additional entry for bottom level units. Visitors can enter directly from the street and have easy access to the river and surrounding attractions.