McLendon Avenue House

Year: 2024 Design & Honor Awards | Category: Residential Under $1 Million

The 2,400 s.f. net-zero McLendon Avenue House occupies a quarter-acre site transected by a small creek. Platted as a legal lot-of-record in the area’s original subdivision in the 1910’s, the site remained undeveloped due to steep terrain and difficulties crossing the creek for access. Additionally all areas of the site are within the creek’s 25’, 50’ and 75’ riparian stream buffers. By necessity, the house, with considerable jurisdictional involvement, was constructed entirely within the 75’ stream buffer. Bridge/drive design complying with City of Atlanta Watershed regulations and State of Georgia EPD criteria was an essential component in realizing the project.

Design Challenge

Building on an unbuildable site: As the core of Atlanta becomes more and more dense, options for new single-family homes are often limited to building unsustainably through demolition of existing homes. “The greenest building is the one already built” (Carl Elefante, FAIA). However, scattered around the city core are undeveloped sites considered “unbuildable””, often because of jurisdictionally imposed restraints such as zoning setbacks, riparian stream buffers, peculiar lot configurations and difficult site features.

Comparably, for this 12,401 sq. ft. site, zoning setbacks and riparian buffer restraints imposed on the lot’s status as an undeveloped, legal, residential lot-of-record rendered the property “unbuildable”. Not a single square foot of the site met jurisdictional requirements for “buildable”. Furthermore, the stream along the front of the site precluded construction access and the steep terrain was foreboding.
McLendon Avenue House demonstrates how jurisdictionally imposed restraints can create hardships which (no matter how intimidating) cannot deny a property owner their legally established right-to-build and, subsequently, demonstrates how those hardships, through proper planning and perseverance, can be overcome.

The site allows an east-west orientation; ideal for our southern climate. The design responds with large south-facing windows perfect for daylighting and natural ventilation. Corten steel siding fulfills the owner’s request for low-maintenance exterior materials; rooftop photovoltaics and battery storage substantially reduce energy costs. Invasive plant species were removed, and native plants now populate the landscaping around the house. Rainwater harvest cisterns at the rear of the house collect roof runoff and provide water for irrigation.

Firm
Robert M. Cain, FAIA

Project Location
Atlanta, Georgia

Completion Date
10/12/2023

Architects and Designers
Robert M. Cain
Carmen Stan

Interior Design
Robert M. Cain, Architect

Structural Engineer
Tony Patruta, PE

Civil Engineer
AEC, Inc.

Landscape
Waterhouse Design & Consulting, LLC

General Contractor
Owner-built

Photographer
Fredrik Brauer