A couple relocating to Highland Park asked UrbanLab to design a comfortable, energy efficient house that has plenty of room to entertain visiting children and grandchildren. The design approach entails interconnecting multiple pitched-roof pavilions with distinct functions, including uses for guests and linkages to the prairie landscape. The individual pavilions contain: the master bedroom and bath; the “great room” (formal living and dining) and kitchen; an office, enclosed porch, bathrooms and laundry room; guest rooms and bathrooms; and, a three-car garage. Each pavilion is oriented to benefit most directly from the sun, wind, and privacy from other household functions (and neighboring houses). The pavilions are arranged around intimate courtyards to create visual and physical connections with the prairie. When the owners and their guests activate all the pavilions at once, the house becomes programmatically unified. Cedar shingles are scaled up to the size of small boards to uniformly skin the exterior walls and roof.