The Brief

Constraint as Catalyst

A challenging site, a demanding budget, and a difficult entitlement process in a historic overlay district — the constraints of this project became its greatest creative catalyst. The result is a unique, one-of-a-kind missing-middle duplex that settles comfortably into its downtown surroundings while pushing the limits of health and performance.

Each space in the building, inside and out, is bathed in gentle light and shadow-play, making for homes completely in tune with the natural world. This project showcases a core belief: that every project, no matter how modest the budget, can be beautifully designed, highly functional, and deeply connected to wellbeing.

The building provides two complete residences within a single refined, sculptural form — each unit with its own identity, its own light, and its own relationship to the outdoors. From street level it reads as a single, confident architectural statement.

The Exterior

A Sculptural Presence on the Street

The building's distinctive facade — a layered screen of vertical slats set proud of the wall — creates a constantly shifting play of light and shadow throughout the day. No two hours look the same. The screen simultaneously provides privacy, solar shading, and a rich visual texture that elevates the building above its neighbors.

The slatted facade creates a dynamic relationship with light throughout the day. The dormer above houses a complete upper unit with its own private outlook.

Design Process

How the Form Was Found

The project was conceived as a study in compact living — a pair of bright, efficient residences within a single refined form. Every decision was tested against the dual demands of architectural quality and construction economy.

The Back-to-Back Move

The two residences are combined back-to-back to create a unique and memorable roof form, while maintaining an economy of construction that keeps costs manageable. This single design move — simple in concept — is key to the building's iconic silhouette and its viability as a project.

Testing in Physical Models

Certain aspects of design — verifying scale within the existing neighborhood, seeing how shadows play across the facade, understanding the relationship of the building to the street — can best be tested in physical models. Despite our fluidity in digital tools, building real, physical models remains a key part of the KLPOA process. They reveal things that screens cannot.

Physical models used to verify scale, proportion, and shadow in context.

Wellness From the Start

From the first sketch, wellness principles shaped every decision. Window placement was designed around natural light quality, not just code compliance. Material selections prioritized low-VOC performance alongside aesthetics. The slatted screen does double duty as solar shading, reducing heat gain and glare without sacrificing views or connection to the outside.

Outdoor Living

The Deck as an Extension of Home

Each unit has its own generous deck, designed to function as a true outdoor room. The slatted screen wraps the deck perimeter, providing privacy and shade while maintaining views and ventilation. The decks create a layered threshold between inside and out — not a barrier, but a gradient.

The connection to the outdoors is a core wellness principle. Access to fresh air, natural light, and greenery has measurable effects on mood, stress, and physical health. This building was designed so that those benefits are available to both units throughout the day.

Natural Light Outdoor Access Ventilation Solar Shading Privacy

The Bedroom

Ceilings That Change How You Feel

The primary bedroom features generous ceiling heights that transform the experience of a modestly-sized room entirely. High ceilings in bedrooms are not an aesthetic luxury — they have measurable effects on perceived air quality, stress, and the sense of spaciousness.

Large windows bring natural light deep into the space throughout the day. The light quality shifts gently as the sun moves, creating a living quality of illumination that supports natural circadian rhythms rather than fighting them.

Every surface material was selected for low chemical emissions, ensuring the air quality in the room where you spend a third of your life is as clean as possible.

Kitchen and Bath

Craft in Every Detail

The interiors were designed with the same rigor as the exterior. Custom cabinetry, terrazzo tile, penny-round floors, and matte black fixtures combine to create rooms that feel considered from every angle. Materials were specified not just for visual appeal but for their health and durability performance.

The Work Nook

A Home That Works for How You Live

A built-in desk nook with warm plywood paneling, pendant lighting, and space for two creates a dedicated work area that feels intentional rather than improvised. This detail illustrates the project's broader philosophy: every square foot should be purposeful.

Compact living does not mean compromised living. It means designing every inch with care, so that a modest footprint feels generous, organized, and deeply livable.

Start a Conversation

Thinking About
a Custom Home?

Every project starts with a free, no-obligation consultation. We will talk through your site, your goals, and what is possible.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Limited projects accepted per year

Custom New Build