Middle House on the Prairie

In this duplex, each unit—joined by a split-level design to maximize the space—has its own street-facing entrance and private stairs, creating a sense of privacy and separation despite sharing the same building. The main unit is entirely on the ground floor (a perfect aging-in-place option) while the second unit is well-suited as a short-term rental or for multi-generational housing.

Instead of your typical landscaping, the team embraced ecological principles by planting native prairie and woodland plants that attract pollinating insects and birds. The duplex also comes with movable planters that let residents grow their own vegetables and herbs, and the roof supports drought-tolerant plants suited to full sun.

The duplex was built using prefab modules made off-site to minimize construction time and maximize quality control. Reclaimed materials were incorporated where possible, and the intentional decision to forgo a basement reduced excavation, preventing disruption to existing on-site ecosystems. The result is a project that merges housing flexibility, ecological design, and construction efficiency.