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Colter added an “assembly line” of light portholes throughout the studio as an affordable blend of style and function.

Five House by M Gooden Design floor plan

For 2015, Vipp, the Danish industrial design company known for its iconic trash cans and all-black kitchens, introduces a 592-square-foot prefab unit called Shelter.

This 14-by-16-foot modern dwelling is perfect for the Austin family who uses it as a guesthouse for visitors. It's also become a good investment, as they turn it into a short-term rental during Austin's busy spring and fall tourist seasons.

Constructed out of structural insulated panels (SIPS), the Element House is a modular building that was designed to operate independently of public utilities by instead employing passive systems and on-site energy generation. The house functions as a guesthouse and visitor center for Star Axis, a nearby land art project by the artist Charles Ross in New Mexico.

The curving, bulbous walls of the bath and shower reveal an unexpected secondary role as a screen for film projections, giving the house a sci-fi glow.

Floor Plan of St. Andrews ADU by Assembledge+

Why Now, More Than Ever, the ADU Is the Future of Home: Whether it serves as an investment, backyard office, or intergenerational housing, the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) has never made more sense.

The kitchen countertops, made of white manufactured Quartz, cost $2600 including material, fabrication, and a clean waterfall edge. The backsplash is composed of textural Inedita tile in 5x5 squares. “They are really beautiful; they have this sculpted shape,

The Space Floor Plan

Owners and tenants of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) share key insights about how to navigate the unique living experience.

Floor plan of Treehouse3000 by Jagoda Architecture

“We bought the land not knowing what we could build or where. It’s off by itself and pretty isolated,” says Jeff.

Floor plan of the Legend Two by Nestron

Toronto architect Gregory Neudorf creates a pristine and practical 400-square-foot dwelling with nautical storage below deck.

Propel Studio’s Wedge ADU is a luminous respite, with built-in wood cabinetry and a massive skylight. Over the past decade, Portland, Oregon, has seen a wave of ADUs constructed—from detached backyard structures to dedicated basements dwellings and above-garage apartments that are part of an existing house. Portland isn’t the only city committed to ADUs, but in most places, regulations make them difficult. As of last year, there were only four American cities—Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Austin—that had built more than 1,000 units.