Countdown: Our 10 Most-Viewed Case Studies of 2025
Story at a Glance
- Small luxury homes on narrow lots demonstrate how contemporary and traditional styles can coexist.
- Sustainable Passive House and LEED Platinum projects showcase building practices that prioritize health, efficiency, and impact.
- Historic reinterpretations and renovations highlight craftsmanship and preservation, blending old-world charm with modern needs.
- Multigenerational prefab compounds and discreet urban residences illustrate innovative approaches to density, flexibility, and community living.
These were the case studies our readers poured over in 2025.
What's interesting is that they're not necessarily the biggest houses, or the flashiest ones. But, if we had to find a thread connecting them, we'd say they're the projects where sharp thinking and planning mattered. Tight lots, historic structures, multigenerational needs, efficient construction, and sustainability that had to math out. A great collection to inspire your plans for the coming year.
We’re counting them down in reverse order:
10. Opposing Styles on Neighboring Lots
On a small infill lot in East Grand Rapids, Mich., these two homes show how luxury custom design can still work within narrow lot lines.
Designed by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based architecture firm Visbeen Architects, the homes share a lot and show how contemporary and traditional designs can effectively be paired. Read the full case study ➡️
9. A Scandi-Style Sustainable Bathroom
Clean lines, functional storage, and a tucked-away indoor sauna set the tone for this Scandinavian-inspired custom bathroom in Whitefish, Mont.
The space is part of a 3,074-square-foot custom home built by Whitefish, Mont.-based Stumptown Construction and designed by Love Schack Architecture, based in Bozeman, Mont. Read more about it ➡️.
8. LEED and Passive House-Certified Home
This 3,500-square-foot custom home in New York’s Hudson Valley sets a high bar for sustainable building, combining Passive House design with LEED Platinum certification.
Built in Ossining, N.Y., by Ed Nugent and designed by Christina Griffin of CGA Studio, the home is also net zero and carbon neutral. Get all the details➡️
7. Steel-Framed, With a Prefab Envelope
Designed to serve both present needs and long-term living, this 6,704-square-foot Passive House in the mountains near Scranton, Pa., pairs durability with flexibility.
Built by LR Costanzo and designed by Richard Pedranti Architect, the four-bedroom home emphasizes healthy indoor environments, long-lasting materials, and strong connections to its surrounding landscape. Here's how they did it ➡️.
6. All-Electric Craftsman-Style ADU
This 800-square-foot, all-electric ADU in Los Angeles’ Mt. Washington neighborhood balances contemporary living with its Craftsman context.
Developed by design/build firm CarbonShack, the project uses locally sourced natural materials to blend in, while giving the interior its own modern identity. View the full project details➡️.
5. A 19th Century Dutch Farmhouse Replica
Built in the tradition of 19th-century Dutch and German farmhouses, this ‘new old house’ reinterprets historic Pennsylvania forms through traditional craftsmanship.
The project was led by master builder Brent Hull of Hull Works, whose background in historic restoration guided every detail. See how Hull pulled it off ➡️.
4. Midcentury Modern Remodel with a Japanese Lens
Once a patchwork of additions, this 80-year-old Los Angeles home was reimagined as a Japan-meets–midcentury modern residence informed by feng shui and natural light.
The remodel, led by architect Marcos Santa Ana of Alloi, transforms the structure while carefully addressing seismic and structural constraints. See how it all came together ➡️.
3. A High-Rise Remodel in the Iconic Hancock
The gutting and renovation of a 1960s condo in one of the world’s most recognizable high rises took a cohesive architect-contractor team sensitive to the delicate balance between highlighting and simplifying architectural elements.
Vladimir Rudutny Architects teamed up with contractors Harder Brothers Construction and Design on the complicated project. Hear how they did it➡️.
2. Four Prefab Buildings in Urban Austin
Enabled by updated zoning, this multigenerational prefab compound in Austin, Texas, brings four modular buildings onto a single infill lot.
Designed by Chris Krager of KRDB and Ma Modular, the family compound balances density, flexibility, and customization within a changing regulatory landscape. See how it all came together➡️.
1. Austin Home That's "Discrete from the Street"
Designed to be discreet from the street, this Austin home reveals a series of spatial surprises once inside.
City View House, a midcentury-inspired residence by architect Mark Odom and builder Brent Fannin of FIA Homes, uses careful sequencing and restraint to shape the experience. Read the full case study ➡️.
About the Author
Pauline Hammerbeck
Pauline Hammerbeck is the editor of Custom Builder, the leading business media brand for custom builders and their architectural and design partners. She also serves as a senior editor for Pro Builder, where she directs products coverage and the brand's MVP Product Awards. With experience across the built environment - in architecture, real estate, retail, and design - Pauline brings a broad perspective to her work. Reach her at [email protected].