This article covers the debut episode of Future Living, a podcast on the Offsite Dirt Network hosted by Troy Thiel. The episode features Edie Dillman, CEO of B. Public Prefab, and focuses on missing middle housing, offsite construction, and modest energy-efficient homes.
The article defines missing middle housing as small-scale housing types between single-family homes and high-rise apartments. Examples include townhomes, ADUs, duplexes, cottage courts, and triplexes.
Edie Dillman says these are the kinds of homes the U.S. stopped building 50 to 60 years ago.
The article says offsite fabrication can shorten construction timelines and improve quality. It also says prefab panels can support sustainability and lower energy bills.
The article says this approach may be useful for nonprofits, small developers, and aging-in-place families.
The article says aging in place can mean staying in the same community, not necessarily the same house. Troy Thiel says he and his wife downsized into a ranch-style condo in Madison and value being near friends.
Edie Dillman says there is growing demand for ADUs and small homes that can house aging parents or adult children.
B. Public Prefab’s co-labs program is described as a national network of architects offering ready-to-go prefab home designs. The homes are standardized but customizable.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Apartments built last year | 600,000 |
| Condos built | 18,000 |
The article argues that local zoning reform, offsite innovation, and small-scale ownership housing can help restore balance in the housing market. It presents ADUs, townhomes, and prefab collaborations as part of that path forward.