Missing Middle

Reframing density through mixed-use living

Missing Middle is a conceptual architectural project that explores the intersection of residential and commercial space at a human scale. The project responds to the gap between single-family housing and large apartment blocks by proposing a compact, mixed-use building that supports both daily life and neighborhood activity.

The design integrates a restaurant and café on the ground level, activating the street and creating a public-facing edge, while maintaining a five-unit residential complex above. This layering of uses encourages walkability, social interaction, and a stronger relationship between private living spaces and the public realm.

Rather than maximizing density, the project focuses on balance—carefully proportioned units, clear structural rhythm, and a restrained architectural language that emphasizes order, light, and livability. The result is a building that feels urban yet approachable, dense yet intimate.

Missing Middle is an exploration of how thoughtful mixed-use design can contribute to more sustainable, community-oriented neighborhoods without sacrificing residential quality.