Green-Roofed Longhouse Blends Into the Kansas Prairie

If you were driving by this private home in Kansas, you might just miss it. The Longhouse is covered in a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/07/gorgeous-eco-lodge-built-on-flathead-lake-in-montana/" target="_blank">sod roof</a> that renders it barely visible as it blends in with the Kansas prairie. Designed by Kansas-based <a href="http://www.rockhillandassociates.com/Longhouse4.htm" target="_blank">Rockhill and Associates</a>, the Kansas Longhouse is a solar passive home that showcases low-maintenance materials and a respect for the climate and surrounding environment.

The home is oriented to the east and west to take advantage of the good southern exposure.

The home backs up to a brome field that is 12 feet higher than the house, which blocks the wind.

The home's exterior is finished with maintenance-free materials like corrugated metal and native limestone.

A covered patio separates the detached garage from the main house.

Inside, the home is very long and narrow and has a hallway that wraps around the core rooms to further promote solar passive design.

Operable south-facing windows coupled with operable north windows allow for cross ventilation.

The entire north wall is covered in 28 built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinets that provide all of the home's storage.

The kitchen, living and dining room employ open floor plans, and two of the rooms have movable walls so that they can serve as flexible spaces.

The sod roof covers the detached garage, a patio and the house.