Richard Sharp Smith

Richard Sharp Smith was born in Yorkshire, England, the son of Saleta (née Watterson) and Jones Smith. He is thought to have studied architecture at the Kensington School of Art in London. He received additional architectural training in the office of George Smith, his cousin. He worked with various firms in Manchester before immigrating to the United States in 1882. == Career ==

In 1882, Smith became an architect with Reid Brothers, an architectural and engineering firm in Evansville, Indiana. Biltmore was planned to be more than the largest home in America; it was also to be a working estate with expansive grounds designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Smith was more than just a supervising architect; he designed many secondary buildings, cottages, and other structures for the estate while on site. One is the former Mule Stable which is now used as the Deerpark restaurant. During his first five years in practice, 1896 to 1901, Smith received sixty commissions. With Biltmore Village, Smith developed an attractive look for the neighborhood surrounding the entrance to the estate, while also fulfilling his client's ambition to model ideal village life. Other Projects Vanderbilt also commissioned the Young Man's Institute (YMI) the first building Smith designed in Asheville proper. In another project for Vanderbilt, Smith designed five large rental cottages, actually mansions, across the Swannanoa River on Vernon Hill overlooking Biltmore. Smith's other early commissions were for houses and cottages in the Montford and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods of Asheville. In 1897, he sued builder James M. Westall for using his designs without permission, especially exterior features. The tall Vance Monument was part of the Downtown Asheville Historic District but was demolished in 2021. After Smith's death, Carrier completed some open commissions but not much more. == Professional affiliations ==

In 1901, Smith became president of the Southeastern Architectural League. He was one of the five founding members of the North Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects (NC-AIA) in 1913. He was president of the NC-AIA in 1917 and vice president in 1921. In 1915, Smith became the 36th architect in North Carolina to receive a license under the new Practice Act of 1915. == Personal ==

After moving to Asheville, Smith never returned to England. He was also a member of the British American Club and the Asheville Masonic Temple; he designed a building for the latter in 1913. Smith died in 1924 at the age of 72 after several months of illness. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Asheville. After his death, his family continued to live in Stoneybrook despite financial challenges. Mrs. Smith sold the house to Walter Westwood in 1926, but purchased it back at auction in 1928 after Westwood defaulted on his loan. However, she sold off acreage over time, eventually selling the house again in 1932. She lived in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Asheville until she died in 1966. == Selected projects ==

The following is a selected list of Smith's buildings that survive. Most are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), are a Local Landmark (LL), or are part of a National Register Historic District (NRHD), a Main Street National Historic District (MSHD), or a National Historic Landmark District (NHL). == Notes ==