Little Mod

Little Mod rethinks urban living through a compact, net-zero duplex in Saint Paul’s West 7th neighborhood — pairing Nordic restraint with sustainable innovation to prove that small spaces can drive big ideas.

Little Mod

Small footprint, big thinking — rethinking density for a new generation.

Little Mod is a study in doing more with less. Tucked into Saint Paul’s West 7th neighborhood, this compact urban infill project reimagines how density can feel — generous, efficient, and quietly refined. The duplex holds six co-living suites per unit, creating twelve thoughtfully designed bedroom-and-bathroom spaces that balance community and privacy. The goal wasn’t to build bigger — it was to build smarter. By treating density as an opportunity for better design rather than compromise, Little Mod offers a blueprint for the kind of small-scale, high-performance housing that cities need more of.

Year _2025
Location _Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photography _Jake Williams, BLOK

Saint Paul

West Seventh — a neighborhood with history and heart.

Set within one of Saint Paul’s oldest corridors, West Seventh carries a layered history that continues to shape its character today. Once home to the city’s first settlement and later a patchwork of warehouses and industrial spaces, the area has evolved into a vibrant mix of local restaurants, breweries, and gathering spots that give it unmistakable life. Landmarks like Cossetta’s and Mancini’s Char House share the street with craft brewers such as Summit Brewing Co. and Bad Weather Brewing, while the revived Schmidt Brewing campus — now Keg and Case Market — stands as a symbol of the neighborhood’s creative renewal. For BLOK, this context was essential. Little Mod was designed not as an isolated project, but as a quiet participant in the neighborhood’s ongoing story — a piece that respects the rhythm of West Seventh while contributing to its next chapter.

Quiet design, lasting presence — simplicity that belongs.

Inspired by Nordic simplicity, the building uses just two materials — natural wood and large-format panels — to create a calm, timeless presence. The palette feels familiar yet contemporary, designed to sit comfortably within the neighborhood rather than compete with it. Its south-facing façade captures ample daylight through large, carefully positioned openings that fill each suite with warmth. This orientation also helps passively heat the building in winter, reducing energy use while connecting residents to the changing light throughout the day. The result is a building that feels as practical as it is poetic — grounded, natural, and quietly confident.

Built for What's Next — Smarter Systems, Smaller Impact.

With sixteen feet of grade change in two directions, shallow bedrock, and a tight site, the project demanded restraint and clarity. The structure was designed to be simple, efficient, and light on the land. Beneath that simplicity lies a deep commitment to performance — the project targets Zero Energy certification through a high-performing envelope and intelligent mechanical systems. Energy modeling informed every design move, from window placement to the quality of materials, ensuring that form and performance worked together. The ambition is straightforward but ambitious: to produce more energy than the building consumes each year. Little Mod may be modest in scale, but its vision is expansive — a reminder that even small buildings can lead the way toward a more sustainable, thoughtful urban future.

Collaborators

Construction Manger: BuildR Construction
Environmental Engineer: Center for Energy and Environment
Civil Engineer: Design Tree
Landscape Architect: Calyx Design Group
Structural Engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson

Renderings