This house was designed by the architect for himself and his wife shortly after they were married. They needed a small, pleasant, cheap house with room for a home office, and pleasant outdoor spaces. The finished house demonstrates that the secret to providing good quality space on a tight budget is good design. With one bedroom, a study (or second bedroom), one bath, a kitchen, dining and living room, plus a tiny library, all in only 1110 square feet, this house could be called the world's best apartment. Basic construction costs were about $66,000. With land, soft costs and landscaping, this new, detached home, ten minutes from downtown, was built (in 1998) for $120,000.

Modern design (the 'contemporary style') provides the formal flexibility which allows good design choices and makes possible the development of attractive, efficient, cost-effective housing.