Middle Housing
Based in Eugene, Oregon, Aligned Architecture designs middle housing for homeowners, developers, and municipalities in Oregon and other states where legislation allows.
What is Middle Housing?
Middle housing, sometimes called missing middle housing, includes building types between single-family homes and large apartment complexes like duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, cottage clusters, pocket neighborhoods, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Oregon and California now require cities to allow more of these building types in residential zones, making middle housing a central tool for expanding much-needed housing supply.
Designed at Neighborhood Scale
Middle housing is meant to fit within existing neighborhoods. Drawing on our many custom small home and cottage projects, we design compact, efficient buildings that add density and housing choice while respecting the scale, materials, and character of their surroundings.
Services Included
- Duplex, triplex, and fourplex design
- Cottage cluster and cottage court design
- Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design
- Granny flats
- Site planning for middle housing code compliance
- Coordination with municipal planning departments
- Feasibility review for middle housing conversions and infill sites
- Renderings for permitting, decision-making, and developer marketing
- Interior design services
- Construction administration
- Sustainable, Eco-friendly design
Our Track Record
Examples can be seen in our Small Home Design and Multifamily Design pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between middle housing and affordable housing?
Middle housing describes specific building types, such as duplexes, triplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and cottage clusters. Affordable housing describes a funding and income-eligibility structure, most often tied to a percentage of area median income. The two can overlap, since middle housing formats are often an efficient way to deliver affordable units, but not all middle housing is income-restricted.
Pre-Approved Plan Options for the City of Eugene
For homeowners we offer accessory dwelling unit plans pre-approved for use in the City of Eugene that can move through permitting faster than fully custom designs. If you are hoping to build in Eugene, visit the City of Eugene’s pre-approved ADU library.
Can Aligned Architecture help homeowners understand what middle housing is allowed on their lot?
Yes. We can help homeowners and developers understand what middle housing types are permitted on a given site under current state and local regulations.
Does Aligned Architecture sell middle housing design plans?
Yes. Our green building house plans site, green-building.com, offers plans for small homes, tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).