From the curb, “missing middle” housing might not look much different from its single-family counterparts—and that’s the point. However, its ability to contain multitudes is what makes it such an innovative option in today’s cost-prohibitive and space-strapped housing market. This typology enlivens neighborhoods and communities without sacrificing single-family scale or the convenience of neighborhood walkability. It’s also what Brian O’Looney, AIA, of Washington, D.C.-based Torti Gallas + Partners, specializes in designing. O’Looney credits Dan Parolek, AIA, an urban designer and architect at California-based Opticos Design, with coining the term.
O’Looney spoke to attendees on this topic at AIA’s 2023 Conference on Architecture, held in June in San Francisco, in a session titled “Enriching Neighborhoods: Building Types for Community Beyond the ‘Missing Middle.’” He encouraged AIA and its members to take a stand for better design in missing middle housing, which, he believes, can support more varied and dynamic neighborhoods.
We chatted with O’Looney about why this typology is becoming increasingly necessary.
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