McLendon Avenue Home

The McLendon Avenue home is a 2,400 square foot house occupying a quarter-acre site transected by a small creek. Even though platted as a legal lot of record in the area’s original subdivision, the land remained undeveloped due to difficulties presented by the prospect of crossing the creek for access to the bulk of the property. Design and construction of a bridge complying with City of Atlanta Watershed Management regulations and State of Georgia EPD criteria was an essential component in realizing the project. Additionally, all areas of the site inside the zoning setbacks were within the creek’s 25, 50 and 75 foot stream buffers. Thus, by necessity, the house was, with considerable jurisdictional involvement, constructed entirely within the stream buffers.

In plan the two-story living room, kitchen and dining are on the garage level with a gracious open tread stair accessing three bedrooms, a home office and private spaces above. The stream buffers outside of the 25 foot Waters of the State buffer dictated the long, linear two-story aspect of the design. Fortunately, the east-west orientation of the house is ideal for our southern climate and 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 and photovoltaics on the roof substantially reduce energy costs. Invasive plant species were removed and native plants now populate the landscaping. Rainwater harvest cisterns at the rear of the house collect roof runoff and provide water for irrigation.