Modern Prairie

Beyond its curb appeal, this modern prairie home is engineered for independence. The single-slope roof is oriented due south with ample area for a full solar installation, and the same geometry makes rainwater collection practical enough to nearly supplant piped domestic water.

Glazing wraps the building to fill the interior with natural light, but it is placed away from the southern sun — maximizing daylight while keeping solar heat gain out of the cooling load. It is the kind of decision that costs nothing on paper and pays for itself every August.

The wood cladding is chosen to weather. With each season it takes on the colors of its surroundings, until the house reads less like an object on the prairie and more like something that grew there.