the family
The family is a two-story backyard cottage with a flexible plan that fits up to three bedrooms, for a range of family sizes and needs. It fits on lots starting at 30 feet wide.
The kitchen and bathrooms sit in the center of the plan, leaving the rooms on either side open to different arrangements. The living room can become a bedroom, and the dining space can become a double-height living area. The main entrance can move to suit how you use the ground floor. The plan is symmetrical, so you can position it in the backyard for the best sun and cross-ventilation.
The footprint is kept small to suit most Seattle backyards, and the steeply pitched roof helps limit view blockage for the neighbors. Standard materials and a simple form keep costs down, so the budget can go toward what makes it feel custom: generous windows, careful detailing, built-in furnishings, and good finishes.
Large windows and cross-ventilation in every room allow for passive cooling. Rainwater harvesting and solar panels are encouraged to improve energy efficiency.
The family won the City of Seattle’s ADUniverse backyard cottage design competition and is a pre-approved plan in Seattle. A larger version (1,132 SF) is also pre-approved for streamlined permitting in Kirkland.
information
features
GFA: 808 SF (964 SF option 2)
1 living room
1 dining/flex room
1 bedroom (2 bedroom, option 2)
1.5 baths
lot
coverage area: 530 SF
pitch height: 22’-7”
base height: 14’-4”
length: 30’-0”
width: 17’-8”