Set amidst the picturesque mountains of North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate is the largest house in the USA. The total area of the estate, including the gardens, spans a staggering 32 square kilometres, and it was George W. Vanderbilt II who commissioned the vast French château-style mansion. The son of the richest man in the US hired the finest architects to create the palace, the gardens, and even a private village for the staff. Although the Vanderbilts’ extravagant spending eventually led to the squandering of their fortune, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville still holds its title as the largest house in the US.
The Heir
George Washington Vanderbilt II was born in 1862 in a wealthy home in New York (Staten Island). His grandfather, Cornelius ‘Commodore’ Vanderbilt, was the most influential shipping and railway magnate in the US, and the Vanderbilt fortune had grown to 200 million dollars of the time (which in today’s economy would amount to around 200 billion dollars). However, Cornelius’s grandson was not the calculating entrepreneur who pursued profit at any cost. George W. Vanderbilt II devoted himself to philanthropy, bibliophilia and the arts.
Although by the second half of the 19th century the family already owned the largest estates in New York (the largest of which has not survived to this day), George wanted to build the grandest palace of them all. Whilst members of his family were settling in the New York area, he set his sights on the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. In the late 1880s, the millionaire purchased 505 square kilometres of land near the city of Asheville.
Masters of their craft
Vanderbilt presented his idea to the two most prominent architects of the Gilded Age – architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frank Law Olmsted. The former designed such significant structures as the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the largest house in NYC for the Vanderbilts, and one of the first skyscrapers – the New York Tribune. Frank L. Olmsted, meanwhile, was responsible for the designs of the most important parks in American cities, such as Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the Capitol complex and the iconic Central Park in New York. Naturally, both architects represented the USA at American world exhibitions in the late 19th century.
Although Vanderbilt was considerably younger than the architects, the three of them had a clear understanding of what George’s new home should be like. The trio went on a joint tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley and stately homes in England. They were most taken with the French Château de Blois, which blends Gothic and Renaissance styles, and the English Waddesdon, inspired by French châteaux with eclectic touches.
Upon returning from the trip, it was time to start designing. Hunt created a long façade stretching over 114 metres. The asymmetrical façade combines elements of the French Renaissance and Flamboyant Gothic. Two distinct wings branch off from the ornate central section. It is worth noting the ubiquitous tracery, gables, gargoyles and fish bladders.
The American Loire
This late Gothic style is complemented by pinnacles, ogee arches and a spectacular stair tower that spirals upwards. This element was almost directly borrowed from the aforementioned Château de Blois, specifically from its Gothic section of the courtyard. Incidentally, the sculptures in the canopy-covered niches depict King Louis IX of France, known as Saint Louis, and Joan of Arc (the patron saint of France). Alongside these distinguished figures, the façade also features ornate initials and the founder’s coat of arms.
In turn, the roof, arcades and loggia point to the French Renaissance. Of course, genuine French châteaux often blended the eras in which they were extended, but Hunt combined the ornamentation of the Biltmore Estate in a cohesive and masterful manner. For example, Gothic tracery appears alongside grotesques associated with the Renaissance. Looking at the house from the front, one can see the winter garden, which was still in vogue at the time and is a more modern feature. The other façades are less ornate, and sometimes even devoid of ornamentation. The construction of this colossus required: 4,523 tonnes of limestone from Indiana, 38,000 bricks and 704 windows.
The King of America
Inside, there are 250 rooms, and the total floor area exceeds 16,000 square metres. The ground floor houses the two most interesting rooms in the entire building. Built on an octagonal plan, the winter garden impresses with its enormous glass roof featuring a carved wooden structure. In the centre of the garden stands a fountain surrounded by lush exotic vegetation. Interestingly, arcades with vaults made of self-supporting Guastavino tiles, laid under the supervision of the inventor of this technology, stretch around the entire garden.
The largest room in the entire estate is the banquet hall, whose ceiling soars to a height of 21 metres. Beneath the vast wooden barrel vault lies a sumptuous hall adorned with sculptures, friezes, cornices, coats of arms and, above all, expensive tapestries from Flanders. Interestingly, this hall honours those who served Vanderbilt at the estate and fought on the front lines of the First World War in 1918. Three gold stars symbolise the fallen. It is worth noting that G. W. Vanderbilt sought to create a great ‘palace family’ from his staff, and there is ample evidence of this.
The Treasury
Another room worth noting is the library, which was the owner’s favourite room. G. W. Vanderbilt, who was passionate about literature, could choose from 10,000 titles and, in his spare moments, gaze at the stunning Italian ceiling painting. “Aurora’s Chariot” is an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece, brought directly from the Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice. The Baroque décor is also evident in the intricate, dark walnut panelling and the trompe l’oeil (illusion) imitating architectural elements.
On the first floor are the Vanderbilts’ private rooms and portrait galleries. Most of the rooms reflect the luxurious styles of the Bourbon dynasty. In these sumptuous rooms, one can also find true treasures such as: damask silk curtains, Meissen porcelain and tiled stoves from Tyrol. Other notable exhibits include the original sketch of the ‘Triumphal Arch’ by the eminent German artist Albrecht Dürer, paintings by Claude Monet, Japanese netsuke sculptures and a substantial collection of Flemish tapestries.
The entertainment-loving owner also had his own wing dedicated to games and leisure. In addition to the games room with carom tables, Vanderbilt could invite gentlemen to the cigar lounge or a secret room hidden behind a wall. Of course, there are several more such secret rooms. Meanwhile, the vast basement houses a swimming pool and a bowling alley. It is worth noting that the building was very modern and featured Otis lifts, central heating and a fire-fighting system.
The estate
Vanderbilt had always wanted his staff to be able to live in decent conditions near the estate. Although around 40 people looked after the house on a daily basis, such a vast expanse of land required many workers. What is more, the estate was intended to be self-sufficient, which is why a winery, a huge conservatory, a hydroponic farm, a power station and a dairy were established. The staff of all these facilities lived in a specially built English-style village. Within this charming village, shops, churches, a hospital and even a railway station were established. Interestingly, the country’s first forestry school was established on the estate, and following Vanderbilt’s death in 1914, a significant portion of the forest was transferred to the Department of Agriculture.
The mansions and palaces are the only remnants of the Vanderbilts’ vast fortune. The lavish and extravagant lifestyle of successive generations led to the depletion of the family coffers, and the family, once dubbed the “royal family of the USA”, lost its prominence as early as the second half of the 20th century. However, the Biltmore Estate remains in operation and is now a well-known tourist attraction employing around 2,000 staff.
Source: Biltmore
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