The Need for Smaller Homes and Middle Housing.

For the past decade, I’ve helped families design homes that reflect their values, lifestyles, and dreams. But as the housing crisis in America deepens, I find myself questioning the very foundation of what we’ve come to call the “American Dream.” Is it still a 3,000-square-foot home on a quarter-acre lot? Or is it time to embrace something different—something more sustainable, more equitable, and more in tune with how people actually live today?

The truth is simple: we need smaller homes. We need missing middle housing. And we need it yesterday.

What Is Missing Middle Housing, and Why Does It Matter?

Missing middle housing refers to a range of multi-unit or clustered housing types—duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and townhomes—that fit somewhere between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. These types of homes used to be common in American neighborhoods before zoning laws made them nearly impossible to build.

These options serve an important purpose: they offer attainable, walkable, community-centered living in places people want to be. They’re perfect for young professionals, small families, retirees, and anyone who doesn’t need (or want) an oversized house with an oversized mortgage.

So why aren’t we building them? Because zoning laws, outdated building codes, and cultural biases still favor large, detached single-family homes. The result? Skyrocketing prices, dwindling supply, and entire generations locked out of homeownership.

The Problem With "Bigger Is Better"

As a designer, I’ve seen firsthand the obsession with square footage. Somewhere along the way, more space became synonymous with success. But ask anyone living in a thoughtfully designed 1,200-square-foot home with great light, good flow, and access to shared outdoor space—they’ll tell you it’s more than enough.

We need to shift our focus from size to quality. We should be designing homes that are energy-efficient, flexible, and community-oriented, not just big. Smaller homes use fewer resources, cost less to heat and cool, and are more adaptable to life changes.

What Can Designers and Architects Do?

We can’t solve the housing crisis alone, but we can help lead the way. Here’s how:

1. Educate Clients About Smart Design
   Encourage homeowners to think about how they live, not just how much space they think they need. Challenge the assumption that bigger is better.

2. Advocate for Zoning Reform
   Partner with planners and local governments to push for zoning changes that allow for duplexes, ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), and other forms of missing middle housing in traditionally single-family neighborhoods.

3. Design for Density—Without Sacrificing Beauty
   We need to show that higher density can be attractive, livable, and desirable. Good design is our best argument.

4. Use Your Voice
   Write, speak, and share your work. The more the public sees well-designed smaller homes and middle housing, the more acceptable and appealing it becomes.

5. Mentor the Next Generation
   Teach young designers to see housing as a civic responsibility, not just a business. Instill in them the idea that their work shapes lives, neighborhoods, and cities.

It’s Time for a Cultural Shift

The housing crisis isn’t just about economics. It’s also about values. Do we value community over isolation? Sustainability over excess? Affordability over exclusivity?

As designers and architectural professionals, we sit at a powerful intersection of culture, policy, and aesthetics. We have the ability—and the responsibility—to reshape what home looks like in America.

It’s time we stop designing dreams we can’t afford to live in. Let’s build smarter, smaller, and more together.

What do you think we, as design professionals, can do better? How are you tackling this issue in your own work? I’d love to hear your thoughts—let’s start a conversation.