Budget Breakdown: This $851K Riverside Home Is a Case Study in Smart, Sustainable Living
Combining creative nous with careful planning, architect Mark Lawton creates a net-zero home inspired by the typology of a fisherman’s shack.
Combining creative nous with careful planning, architect Mark Lawton creates a net-zero home inspired by the typology of a fisherman’s shack.
"The arrival sequence became the genesis for the design," says architect Mark Lawton of the net-zero home he brought to life on the banks of the Westport River. "To get there, one must travel down a short, heavily wooded dirt road. After a sharp bend, a framed vista of the river explodes before you."
This hidden cove was formerly home to a fisherman’s shack and an oyster bed—and although it looks idyllic, the site posed a considerable set of constraints, including a modest and unmodifiable footprint and a closely situated neighboring property. "All of my client’s program had to fit into a simple rectangle without a high roofline, which would block the neighbor’s water view," Lawton notes. The property is also located in a high-impact flood zone, with the potential for surging waters to wash up the banks.
| $80,000 Site Prep | $80,000 Foundation | $80,000 Electrical |
| $30,000 Plumbing | $100,000 Exterior Siding | $50,000 Framing |
| $15,000 Roofing | $60,000 Cabinets & Counters | $9,000 Appliances |
| $30,000 Interior Millwork | $50,000 Heating & Cooling | $50,000 Solar Panels |
| $12,000 Water Hookup & Well | $10,000 Fireplace | $35,000 Windows & Doors |
| $30,000 Drywall & Plaster | $30,000 Painting | $80,000 Wood Floors & Tile |
| $20,000 Insulation | ||
| Grand Total: $851,000 | ||
Mark Lawton Architecture constructed this high-functioning home on the banks of the Westport River for a total of $851,000.
Design Imaging Studios
Mark Lawton Architecture carefully selected materials for their durability and patina. The slatted western red cedar facade provides privacy while referencing the tall trees fringing the site.
Design Imaging Studios
The home’s three levels open toward the Westport River. Foundation costs accounting for the site’s unique flood-zone challenges came to $80K, while the exterior siding cost $100K.
Design Imaging Studios
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: This $851K Riverside Home Is a Case Study in Smart, Sustainable Living
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