The Wabaunsee County Homestead sensitively modifies the primary structure of an 1893 homestead for contemporary use, adding a new building that both compliments the character of the historic structure and connects a new interior experience with a profound landscape. The project illustrates the power and continued usefulness of historic structures, extending the value of embodied energy already present in material and craftsmanship. New construction is a combination of locally harvested, repurposed and durable / low maintenance materials. The home is sited within the Tallgrass Prairie in eastern Kansas — one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet with only 4% remaining — and both celebrates and responsibly engages this context.