A modern backyard home designed for aging in place

Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are usually just that—accessories to primary residences. But for a couple in Seattle, the sleek addition they built in the alleyway of their property is actually more of a home base.

Seattle studio SHED Architecture & Design worked with the owners to design a space they could live in while renting out the main Craftsman-style home on site. Clad in black metal panels and rising into a point, the ADU creates an airy interior despite its compact footprint.

“In appearance, the building is reminiscent of a cat whose back is fattening to the ground, ready to pounce,” the architects say of the project, which has been named Alley Cat, naturally.

Read more >