Small home idea spreads: 5 iterations

Small homes are, well, small, but they do come in various iterations. Recently the website builderonline.com published brief but well-illustrated reports on five recently developed structures. Not surprisingly they vary in purpose and cost, and all have been guided by our patchwork municipal regulations, some of which are more ADU (accessory dwelling unit)-friendly than others.

First, in ADU-supportive Portland, Oregon, a 16x32-foot backyard ADU was constructed to allow older loved ones to age in place. The structure features a bedroom, full bathroom and multi-purpose living room, all designed to accommodate wheelchair-access and universally designed handles and knobs for arthritic ease of use.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, where ADU structures are known as laneway housing, a 935 square-foot cottage was constructed allowing for extended family entertaining and sleepovers. A modern kitchen and two bedrooms are included.

Iceland-inspired architecture underlies a set of Los Angeles structures that can be used in a variety of ways—guest house, home office, bonus room, studio or Airbnb rental. Interestingly, they are pre-fab, modular constructions using panels made of patented materials and, technically anyway, heralding a strong possibility for future ADU construction.

Outside the ADU “hotbeds” of Portland and Vancouver, Minneapolis has been leading the way in loosening up housing codes to further experimentation with small structures—in this case, permitting a two-story ADU, with the dwelling unit situated on top of a one-car garage. It is designed to fit in architecturally with the associated family home.

Though ADUs are often presented (particularly in this blog) as relatively low-cost housing alternatives for people on limited incomes, that doesn’t mean they can’t go high-end if so desired. This Minneapolis ADU has been custom-designed to a fare-thee-well, making absolute maximum use of all available space, at a price point of $250,000.