Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Minneapolis, MN | Publications & Awards: Featured in Star Tribune, Award Winner at Midwest Home Design Awards
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.
