Modern house exterior with illuminated windows at dusk
Modern house with gray facade and wooden roofline, surrounded by greenery.
Modern Prairie style house with address number 1292, surrounded by trees and a clear sky.
Modern Prairie style house with glass facade and wooden roof
Modern Prairie style house with glass facade and wooden roof against a clear blue sky
Modern Prairie style house with a sloped roof and glass windows, surrounded by greenery.
Modern house interior with large glass windows and a courtyard area.
Modern house courtyard with large glass windows and a clear blue sky.
Modern house with a courtyard garden area and large windows
Modern living room with large windows, wooden ceiling, and kitchen in the background.
Modern living room with large windows, wooden dining table, and comfortable seating.
Modern kitchen and dining area with large glass door and wooden ceiling.
Modern interior with a wooden dining table and benches by large windows with a view of trees.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets and stainless steel appliances
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, marble countertops, and large windows.
Modern bathroom with wooden ceiling, large windows, and white fixtures.
Modern bathroom with wooden vanity, large mirror, and large windows.
Modern house with large windows at dusk, surrounded by trees.
V House

V House

Set within an Iowa City suburban lot that borders a protected green space, this modern house negotiates the tension between neighborhood restraint and a clear desire to connect with the Iowa landscape. The covenant of the area calls for pitched roofs and limits the outward expression of modern architecture along the street. In response, the front elevation presents a measured and quiet presence. The garage is rotated to soften its mass, while a low wall shapes additional parking and completes a composed entry sequence. From the street, the house aligns with its neighbors and respects the civic character of the community.

Beyond this reserved front, the experience shifts once one enters the court. The courtyard becomes the central element that organizes this modern prairie inspired house. It brings nature into the core of the plan, offering framed views of interior rooms and creating a long visual connection through the living spaces. This open garden balances public arrival and private living, allowing daylight, fresh air, and seasonal change to move through the interior. In this way, the courtyard becomes both gateway and anchor, dissolving the boundary between inside and outside.

Along the rear, where the covenant does not apply, the house opens fully to the protected Iowa landscape. Large glass walls, an asymmetric composition, and a studied movement of volumes create a stronger relationship to nature. Wood soffits extend into wood ceilings inside, drawing the eye toward the horizon and reinforcing the orientation to light and land. The exterior cladding is organized in a grid that recalls a Japanese sense of order and clarity. Windows are carefully placed within this structure, producing a calm yet dynamic modern elevation.

The sloping site allows the lower level to step toward the green space. Patios and terraces extend daily living outdoors, offering places to inhabit the landscape throughout the year. In its final form, the house is both modern and rooted in the prairie spirit of Iowa. It is a thoughtful synthesis in which the courtyard shapes the experience of home, and the architecture frames the shifting presence of nature across the seasons.

Pairs well with