Ask architect Monte Van Tassel what unites the mountain modern homes he designed in Oregon, the traditional residences he created along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and the mix of both now taking shape across the Carolinas, and he doesn’t point to a style. He points to a place.
“We want to design homes that are rooted to their location.”
It is the philosophy that has guided Van Tassel Design since Monte and his wife, Cian, founded their Brevard‑based firm in 2019.
The two met on the first day of architecture school at the University of Oregon and launched their firm together in Central Oregon before spending three years designing along Florida’s celebrated 30A corridor.
Last January, they relocated to Brevard – a homecoming of sorts for two architects who had long imagined living in a mountain town with four distinct seasons.
“We love the Southeast. We love the people and the place,” Monte says. They wanted mountain living without the crowds, somewhere they could still backpack, bike, and hike between projects.
Van Tassel Design specializes in high‑end custom homes, renovations, and additions, with work divided almost evenly between new construction and remodels.
Every project begins by understanding how clients live, what matters most to them, and how they hope to experience their home. Rather than imposing a signature style, Monte believes every home should respond first to its owners, its setting, and, when necessary, the architectural character of the surrounding community.
Whatever a home ultimately looks like, that commitment to place remains the constant.
Cian Van Tassel
That commitment begins long before Monte sketches a floor plan or imagines a roofline. He first studies the land – its topography, the path of the sun, the views, and the natural character of the site.
Those observations shape every decision that follows. Natural materials help anchor a home to its surroundings, while generous expanses of glass blur the boundary between indoors and out, inviting the landscape to become part of everyday living. His goal isn’t simply to design a beautiful home. It’s to create one that feels as though it has always belonged there.
Monte encourages homeowners to bring architect and contractor together from the outset, believing open communication and collaboration produce the best results.
He remains involved from the first sketches through construction, making site visits and working alongside builders to ensure the original design intent is faithfully carried through to completion.
When clients request interior design services, Cian joins the project, bringing her background in interior architecture to create interiors that complement Monte’s architectural vision.
Today, Van Tassel Design has projects underway from the Highlands‑Cashiers Plateau to Asheville, Greenville, Cedar Mountain, The Ramble at Biltmore Forest, and
Monte Van Tassel
The Cliffs communities. For Monte, the reward isn’t simply designing beautiful homes. It’s working with clients to understand how they live, what matters most to them, and how to marry that vision with the land where their home will be built.
“We really enjoy taking a client’s vision and turning that into a built reality,” he says. “It’s really a fun process to help clients realize a dream and build a home that is timeless, fits their lifestyle, and is something they can love for years and years to come.”
Van Tassel Architecture can be reached at vantasseldesign.com or by phone at (828) 606‑8847.
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