Moxy Asheville

Located at 61 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville, North Carolina, the 115-room Moxy Asheville envisioned by The Society brings the city’s vibrant spirit to life through a fresh take on Southern interiors and thoughtfully curated nods to Asheville’s history, rich culture, and picturesque charm. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Biltmore Estate and the architecture throughout the city, the design team reimagined Southern charm, infusing it with Moxy’s signature playful edge.

Taking on the role of storyteller, the design team infused Moxy Asheville’s interiors with clever touchpoints and thoughtful nods to the dynamic city it calls home. In the lobby, a suspended lounge chair serves as a callback to the local weekly full-moon drum circle, while decorative airplanes inspired by American literature giant Thomas Wolfe take flight overhead.

Constrained by a compact floor plate and ceiling heights under eight feet, below the Moxy brand standard of 13, the design embraces verticality and layered programming to maximize functionality and experience. Double-height volumes at the entry introduce a sense of openness, while the low ceilings in the bar create an intimate, home-like atmosphere. A mezzanine-level lounge floating above the main first-floor lounge, in turn, offers a cozy space for remote work or quiet relaxation.

Throughout the hotel, the design pays tribute to Asheville’s rich art scene and diverse network of artists and artisans. A bold, saturated palette of blues, yellows, and oranges energizes the space, while signature Moxy elements, like concrete, leather, wood, and patina metals, add warmth and a lived-in character. Timeless wood wall paneling is enlarged and abstracted throughout for a touch of whimsy, while the proportions of traditional furnishings, such as wingback chairs, have been modified for a more modern feel. In the corridors, patterned carpets echo these stylized proportions, leading to guest rooms infused with the serene charm of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a color gradient that mimics the vibrant changing of the leaves in autumn.

Filling the market gap for a whiskey bar in the Asheville food and beverage landscape, the top floor is home to the Wild Wood Still Whiskey Bar & Restaurant, a reimagining of tradition with a warmer, softer look and feel than guests might expect. Driven by the concept of a whiskey garden, the bar and restaurant offer some of the best views of Asheville, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Charred oak wall paneling resembles the inside of a whiskey barrel, while distressed wood flooring and a natural color scheme with hints of dark amber and brown are derived from the grains and ingredients that go into making the spirit. Enhancing the connection to nature, operable glass walls on three sides blur the boundaries between indoors and out, creating an atmosphere that feels both personal and immersive.

The property was conceived as a distinctive yet cohesive addition to its owners’ local hospitality portfolio, which includes three other hotels in the area, most notably the neighboring Aloft Asheville Downtown. To connect the two hotels, The Society crafted a narrative-driven design that reflects the city’s vibrant spirit while physically and thematically linking the new hotel to the adjacent Aloft. Built atop a parking garage and challenged by a compact floor plan, Moxy Asheville makes the most of its footprint by embracing layered programming and the brand’s bold personality. The design team skillfully integrated the two properties, creating a seamless corridor connection that allows guests to move freely between hotels and enjoy shared amenities, including a swimming pool.

A bold and playful addition to Asheville’s downtown, Moxy Asheville embraces its challenging footprint and turns it into a homage to local culture, storytelling, and discovery-driven design. Through layered spaces, curated references to the cultural fabric of Asheville, and immersive experiences, Moxy Asheville captures the energetic charm of the city while redefining what a Moxy hotel can be.

Design: The Society
Architect: LPB Atlanta
Contractor: Kellog & Kimsey
Photography: courtesy of Ankrom Moisan