Converting a Buffalo double to a single on a 25-foot lot would create a very large home indeed, with full basement and attic, while still yielding twice the critical density as single-family new-builds.

The goal in a Progressive Architecture magazine contest several years ago was to design a “single-family home” — a misnomer, as PA itself explains — for a moderate income household (a “family” of four with an income of $30,000) on an inner-city site in Cleveland. The winner was built, and construction turned out to be $68,404, including one-time costs

PA was concerned that the way people actually live is at odds with what is built: “Instead of the nuclear family, a majority of people…have other living arrangements: Adult children living with parents, two unrelated single people with or without children, unrelated elderly living cooperatively.…” Flexibility was a major goal.

The winning design was 14' wide, and all three honorable mentions were 15' wide or less. The house is essentially two two-bedroom flats sharing one ground floor kitchen/dining area. Possible uses include five bedrooms; four bedrooms and two livingrooms; or three bedrooms, one livingroom, and one rentable office with separate entry. In all, 1700 square feet of living space. A smaller version, with two fewer bedrooms, is possible. There are two full baths.

When looking at the plans, it is obvious that it would be relatively simple to convert existing one-over-one doubles into such housing, or, in fact, a very spacious single. Converting a Buffalo double to a single on a 25-foot lot would create a very large home indeed, with full basement and attic, while still yielding twice the critical density as single-family new-builds.