June 29, 2026
By Christopher Stella
Photographs by Ryan Lavine
On Lake Waramaug’s silvery surface, a striking modern structure rises from the shoreline—a bold departure from
traditional lakefront cabins. Its floor-to ceiling windows offer clean, minimalist lines, mirroring the water below. It commands attention through elegant simplicity. “When you’re inside, you feel like you’re on the lake,” says Marie Schwartz, who, along with her husband, Mark, commissioned the construction. “Whether inside or out, it allows you to enjoy the surrounding environment—it makes the lake itself the focal point.”
Mark and Marie first purchased a home on Lake Waramaug in 2001, seeking refuge from New York City. Over 25 years, it became a cherished gatheringplace. In 2010, they purchased the adjacent property, which included a deteriorating boathouse—an environmental liability where a defunct septic system, crumbling cement, and road runoff threatened the lake. Yet rebuilding faced constraints. “When you’re building something on the lake, it has to fit in the exact same footprint of the prior building,”says Mark. “These limitations shaped the design.”
The Schwartzes demonstrated that limitations spawn innovation. They collaborated with Janson Scuro, a New York City-based architecture and interior design firm that Mark had worked successfully on prior commercial and residential projects. “They’re focused holistically on the project—not just the architecture, but the interior design and aesthetics,”says Mark. The design team, led by Mark Janson and Matthew Jasion, understood the structure needed to be contemporary yet respectful of the environment and character of the lake.
Solving the footprint constraint required extensive digital and physical modeling to fit the clients’program within its bounds. After two years of approvals, construction was completed by August 2020.
The structure is striking yet elegant, using exclusively natural materials—metal, stone, wood, and renewable cedar boards. “We did not want to design a faux-historic structure whose architecture is from another time,” says architect Mark Janson. “We live differently now. This structure was designed to capture light and views, something a 19th-or early-20th-century structure would not have taken into consideration.” The L-shaped design contains a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area.
Polished concrete floors with radiant heating enable year-round use, and high performance windows maximize views while providing superior insulation. Retractable screens provide summer ventilation and disappear in winter. The project also remediated ecological damage: a new well, relocated septic system, gravel drainage system, and 40 tons of natural stone from a local quarry replaced the deteriorating seawall.
The owners worked with the town and lake association to ensure environmental considerations were addressed throughout design and construction. “We knew that if we were making a change, we had to do things the right way and not cut any corners,” says Marie. “We wanted to be sure we were truly improving the footprint.” The Schwartzes’ property represents a commitment to stewardship of Lake Waramaug and to anchoring their family’s connection for generations. “It’s always been a family place,” says Mark.
“The kids have always brought up tons of friends.” The cottage now serves as their favorite retreat and location for community events. “Our nieces and nephews and hopefully grandchildren will want to spend time there,” Mark reflects. “Anything we can do to make our kids want to come and hang out with their families is something we support.”
In a landscape where development often means intrusion, this modern structure demonstrates that thoughtful design can enhance a natural environment—and that visionary architecture can be distinctive without being disruptive.
