Dream House on the Prairie is an architect’s journey through several decades, with candid accounts of what went wrong—and what went right—in reconstructing a deteriorating century-old farmhouse. The author reflects on dealing with contractors, carpenters, and crafts persons, and the impact that various tumultuous construction projects had on the family. He recounts experimentations with passive solar design, natural ventilation, wind energy, geo-thermal systems, openings between living spaces, and extensive visual connections to the exterior.

Praise for the Book

This book is proof that the prairie roots of sustainable design run deep. It shows the passion, determination, and joy that comes with seeing a design vision become reality. Arvid Osterberg is a remarkably sensitive and compassionate architect. 

Bruce Bonestroo, Architect

Arvid Osterberg paints the words; he offers ingenuity and heart, like the winding staircase that he calls a masterfully crafted sculpture, we too are “sculpture; living flesh and flaw; beauty, promise, and possibilities.” This book is about a lot more than reclaiming a once ignored building. Thank you, Architect, for reminding us that all of us can live our dreams…   

Jim Boardman, Story Teller

About the Author

Arvid Osterberg is University Professor at Iowa State University, where he teaches graduate courses on inclusive design and historic preservation in the Department of Architecture. He is a registered architect and holds two degrees in architecture from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in architecture from the University of Michigan.