Alley Cat

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Minneapolis, MN

Snowbirds

The Alley Cat ADU serves two young professionals who live there during the warm months while renting out their primary residence. In the winter, they rent out both their primary residence and their ADU while they live abroad. As they described in their interview with the Star Tribune, “We wanted a really beautiful design full of light. We wanted a tropical Scandinavian vibe with tile and butcher block."

The clients’ love for plants guided much of the design, including the large Catalpa tree in their yard. The ADU takes advantage of the extensive tree canopy by tucking the deck, which also serves as the 2nd level entry, underneath the branches. We paid special attention to the exterior form so that the Catalpa tree appears to envelop the ADU. Gardening is also important to the homeowners, so the ADU was carefully located on the site to maintain as much backyard space as possible.

Space to Live

Numerous windows and skylights create a sunlit space for the homeowners’ numerous house plants. The plants, natural light, and compact size create a cozy space full of nooks to relax in.

The kitchen, although compact, has a full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove top. A creative touch is the picture-framed kitchen window, which is a continuation of the butcher block counter. To maximize the efficiency of the small space, their cat’s litterbox is cleverly tucked away into a cabinet with a cat-sized hole.

Project Collaborators: Über Built, and Bunkers and Associates. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.