The Knoxville Museum of Art has received a major bequest from the estate of the late William Starke Shell, a former architecture professor at the University of Tennessee. Professor Shell, who died a year ago in June, 2017, bequeathed his entire estate to the KMA.
The focal point of the bequest is the Shell-designed residence, a modernist glass structure on the Tennessee River cliffs in Lakemoor Hills. In addition to the house and the custom-designed furnishings, the gift includes a contiguous undeveloped lot.
The KMA has announced that it is selling the house, furnishings, and lot, but with protective easements developed with the help and support of Knox Heritage. In preparation for the sale, KMA has indicated that it has made significant investments in the maintenance and repair of the house.
The disposition of the property was the focus of a committee of museum stakeholders aimed at making recommendations to the KMA Board of Trustees. The eventual decision was that the house and adjoining lot be sold with the protection of easements that will ensure the property’s ongoing preservation. The protective easement will be monitored with the assistance of Knox Heritage, which oversees several properties in the region that are similarly protected.
Online real estate data indicates that the house, construction completed in 2013, is 1731 square feet with a unique modernist open arrangement with 1 bedroom and 1 bath. The lot acreage is listed at 2.32 acres. The listing price is $575,000. The sale is being handled by Barbara Apking at Coldwell Banker, Wallace and Wallace Realtor.
