Patti and Austin’s backyard cottage
LAURELHURST DADU - SERENITY ACHIEVED AFTER HEAVY LIFTING
This 575 sq ft backyard cottage features a green roof, open web trusses, a compact kitchen, and a bedroom below.
Our overarching goal in designing cottages is to create spaces that are inviting to live in. Here that goal was achieved in no small part by the use of natural light and complementary finishes. The plan itself in many ways is a quite simple 14ft x 28ft box. Modifications of that box to take advantage of its surroundings make it live large.
The serene exterior of this DADU illustrates one of our favorite design principles. Difficult sites often have the greatest potential. This cottage is located on a steeply sloping environmentally critical area (ECA) site. The fist challenge was that the buildable area is located below and behind the main house and the only access was via a narrow concrete stairway. However, the little used yard nestled in among mature trees was the best and only possible location for the cottage.
Protecting the view for the primary residence was another challenge. To achieve this we flipped the plan with the main living space on the ground floor and placed the bedroom below and accessed via a ships ladder. The bedroom itself features a sliding glass door and abundant natural light. To increase the sense of openness and add warmth we utilized exposed joists for the ceiling. We also used this technique upstairs which features open web trusses. The cottage itself is quite small but feels larger in part because of the aforementioned trusses but also the abundant use of windows which allowed us to "bring the outside in". Here we benefited from the mature trees and integrated landscaping. The site design and retaining walls were shaped by the need to keep as much of the excavated earth on site as possible. Soil removal had to be done by hand, often in buckets, up a narrow stair and carried to the street.
This 575 sq ft backyard cottage features a green roof, open web trusses, a compact kitchen, and a ship’s ladder to the bedroom below (also accessible via stairs from outside). The primary view of the cottage from the main house was from above. We used a green roof for environmental reasons and to provide an attractive vista.
The use of open web trusses allowed us to create a light and airy space while providing the required support the weight of the green roof.
The sloping site allowed us to locate a daylight bedroom in the basement. The lower level basement is accessed via a ships ladder.
The daylight basement room is cozy and light filled.
The limited access meant that large equipment could not access the site. As a result, all excavation had to be done by hand and excess soil was removed in buckets.
An Intergenerational Family Home
Ballard residents Drew and Jacob decided to tear down their "scary little garage" and build a backyard cottage. They are now living in an intergenerational family compound, sharing their property with Drew’s parents. We chatted with Drew to find out about creating a backyard cottage for “one big family living in the heart of Seattle.”
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mayor signs ADU code changes
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed the code changes approved by city council last week that are intended to increase the number of backyard cottages being built in Seattle. The Mayor also signed an executive order to address other issues that restrain construction including reducing construction cost, permitting time and complexity and exploring financing options for ADUs. The code changes will go into effect on August 8th. Limits to new house size (FAR restrictions) will go into effect six months from now.
backyard cottage rules eased
The Seattle City Council has voted on a host of rules predicted to increase the number of ADUs and DADUs
* Increases the allowed size of backyard cottages (DADUs) from 800 square feet to 1,000 square feet.
* Adds an additional 1-2 feet in height, allowing for more usable space in the units' interiors.
* Allows up to two attached accessory dwelling units (AADUs) or one AADU plus one DADU on a property.
* Limits the floor area ratio of new homes, while excluding the area of ADUs. Thereby encouraging homeowners to build an ADU when building a new home or remodeling.
* Eliminates the owner occupancy requirement.
* Removes the off-street parking requirement.
upcoming workshops
backyard cottages for fun and profit
Backyard cottages can be used for many things including housing a family member or as a short term rental. Join Bruce Parker from Microhouse and Stefan Hansmire from Hansmire Builders to learn more about how to plan for and establish a realistic budget for your cottage. Bring your ideas, after the presentation we will have plenty of time to answer questions about the specifics of your project.
Upcoming workshop dates:
Thursday, March 7, 7:00 pm
Phinney Neighborhood Center.
6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Admission Price: $15 members, $25 general public