Columbus, Ohio
Infill Duplex
A ground-up duplex on a narrow infill lot in Columbus, Ohio: two condominium homes over 1,400 square feet each, made possible by zoning variances.
The project
The Infill Duplex puts two condominium homes on a narrow Columbus lot, replacing a single-family house lost to fire. With the lot's width fixed, each home grows through three levels instead of spreading out.
Two homes on one narrow Columbus lot
The site allowed no extra width, and the goal was more housing than a single house would provide. The answer was two vertically organized homes in one building, each more than 1,400 square feet and designed for separate condominium ownership.
Condominium separation gives each side independent ownership within the shared structure. From the street, the building keeps a compact footprint. Inside, each unit works as a full home rather than a divided house.
A narrow lot, two homes.
Each one stacks instead of spreading.
Zoning variances for a two-unit plan
The two-home plan only worked if the city would allow it. Arcfluence developed a variance strategy for the two-unit configuration and navigated the city process for condominium ownership, while keeping the building in line with the surrounding scale and setback patterns.
That approval work was part of the design, not a step after it. The zoning path, the building mass, and the interior plan had to be resolved together, and settling them early is what let the project turn a narrow lot into two homes.
Three levels instead of a wider footprint
Each home spans a main floor, an upper floor, and a fully finished lower level. The design focuses on efficient massing, daylight, and full use of the footprint.
Window placement and open-plan living areas bring light into plans that are narrow by necessity. Detailed carpentry, distinct fixtures, and owner-selected finishes give each home its own identity inside the shared building.
A finished lower level with a bedroom
The lower level is lived-in space, not just storage and utilities. A private bedroom and bathroom there add a room to each home and increase its usable area without making the building any larger from the outside.
Design and construction coordination
Later owner-requested modifications were made without changing the core structure.
Arcfluence led the architectural design, the variance process, and construction coordination.
