the mother-in-law

The mother-in-law is a single-story, one- or two-bedroom backyard cottage, designed to be easily adapted into a fully wheelchair-accessible home. A large, open living space opens onto a covered deck through glass sliders.

Standard building materials and a simple form keep costs down, while a green roof, a trellis, and a quiet, natural palette give it the feel of a custom modern home. Large windows and cross-ventilation in the main living space provide passive heating and cooling, and rainwater harvesting and the green roof are proposed to improve energy and water efficiency. The amount of glazing can be reduced to suit the site.

 
 

information

features

  • GFA: 553 SF (698 SF option 2)

  • 1 living/dining

  • 1 or 2 bedrooms

  • 1 bath

 

lot

  • coverage area: 630 SF (758 SF option 2)

  • pitch height: 11’-2”

  • base height: 8’-6”

  • length: 30’-0”

  • width: 20’-0” (32’-10” option 2)