GRAPHĒ: Budget Breakdown: How an Architect Built a Family Home in Tasmania for $72K

Jiri Lev assembled the two-bedroom house by hand—and he’s offering the plans and step-by-step advice, for free, to anyone who wants to do the same.

The modest home is clad in Weathertex panels made from 97% eucalyptus woodchips and 3% paraffin. The cladding is finished with a charcoal-colored stain to enhance street appeal and avoid any unsightly weathering.

In an era of chronic housing shortages and sky-high mortgage rates, the idea of building a debt-free home with your own hands might feel like a dream. Architect Jiri Lev, however, proposes that it can be done. With his second self-built home, Tasmanian House 3, the Czech-born Australian architect hopes to prove that a family can build a healthy, sustainable home for less than the cost of a typical deposit.

The result is a 645-square foot, two-bedroom cottage built on a shoestring budget of $72K (plus about $50K for land). The build cost covers materials, permits, and the handful of licensed trades Lev didn’t have the expertise to take on himself (electrician, plumber, and building surveyor)—and it’s less than a third of the $230K quote he got from a local builder.

$49,629 Land	$2,992 Foundation	$19,211 Structural
$2,463 Wall Finishes	$2,947 Flooring	$1,668 Roofing
$640 Hardware	$5,567 Electrical	$5,772 Plumbing
$1,921 HVAC Equipment	$1,281 Landscaping	$1,281 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
$1,366 Lighting	$1,921 Cabinetry	$961 Countertops
$740 Appliances	$7,850 Windows & Glazing	$640 Doors
$1,823 Millwork	$2,561 Furnishings & Decor	$3,062 Permitting
$64 Waste Removal	$5,377 Other
Grand Total: $121,737 USD ($190,103 AUD)

Standard off-the-shelf windows with affordable aluminum frames have been used throughout the home. The symmetrical window layout creates a pleasing rhythm and reflects Lev’s commitment to simplicity. — Standard off-the-shelf windows with affordable aluminum frames are featured throughout the home. The symmetrical window layout creates a pleasing rhythm and reflects Lev’s commitment to simplicity. "All the windows are the same size," he says. "It makes fabrication cheaper and reduces the chance of error."

Photo by Jiri Lev

Lev was inspired to build his own home after being on-site during the construction of the first cabin he designed for his family in 2021. He sold the cabin and, with his newly gained knowledge—and a lot of YouTube instruction—decided to build a three-bedroom home, Tasmanian House 2. To encourage others to take on the challenge, he made the plans available to download, for free.