Not every demolished home was old and/or dated-looking.
And not every replacement looks the same.
Dave Matlow’s journey through Westport’s teardowns, and the homes that replace them, is always fascinating. This week’s photos are particularly interesting, because the architectural styles of new construction are more diverse than we often think.
Here we go …
Washington Avenue, April 2016 …
… and June 2026.
==================================================
Ambler Road, August 2006 …
… and June 2026.
==================================================
Rustic Lane, September 2014 …
… and June 2026.
==================================================
Brightfield Lane, March 2020 …
… and June 2026. (All photos/Dave Matlow)
(“06880” regularly covers Westport real estate, history … and much more. If you enjoy features like this, please click here to support our work.)
I have so enjoyed your pictorial posts over the years.
I am an environmental management consultant who cares about pollinators and reducing pesticide and fertilizer use. Would you be willing to take pictures of folks who have reduced their traditional lawn area (non-native Kentucky Blue Grass) and instead have front lawns that are at least partly inhabited by native plants, alternative lawn species (like fescue) or veggie gardens?
Great idea! And appropriate to make here, as I was just thinking how the developers of these properties seemed so eager to cut down trees.
Per my usual comments on here…
Washington Ave – the style is pretty nice, but it is weird to have more than half of the front of the house dedicated to garage door.
Ambler Road was, originally, from the Dark Ages of American home design, but they replaced it with a hotel from Monopoly!
Rustic Lane – the most striking aspect is the loss of all those trees. I love that trees help keep my house cool and I pretty much never need to water the lawn.
Brightfield Lane – not bad. Minimal angles replaced with maximal angles, but it looks okay. The covered porch is nice.
Hopefully more people moving in and renovating or tearing down older home will take more effort in seeking out some of the good builders and architects we have here that can guide the client to develop more interesting classic or modern designs. Other than the a lot more of these newer modern structures often totally devoid of interest, plain white-box structures with no detail, no interesting inclusion of different materials, and black window frames. My bet is they will eventually be as out-dated looking as the split levels and raised ranches of the mid 1900’s being torn down. Worse on some of the nice older streets now with various style lovely homes these white high boxes merely stick out like a sore thumb. Yet it doesn’t cost that much more to if the builder and architects help clients that enhancing the facade can interesting and tasteful.
I enjoy your before and after photos. Hope you continue to include some of the more unique modern and traditional homes in our town.
.