Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Awards and Publications: AIA MN and Star Tribune Home of the Month, Featured Home 2019 Homes by Architects Tour, Featured Home 2019 Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, Featured Project Architecture MN Magazine, Award Winner at Midwest Home Design Awards

Side Street Suite is a contemporary 640-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that sits perched among trees in South Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood. The homeowner is an empty nester who no longer desired to inhabit a 2,700 square feet home. A unique solution was to build a one-bedroom ADU in the backyard of his rental duplex.

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The ADU feels much larger than would seem possible thanks to strategically placed glass on all exterior walls and roof. The home is expanded with unique views which in turn create a dynamic experience of the path of sunlight over the course of the day. The kitchen is compact yet well-appointed, offering most of the amenities of a larger home, albeit in more compact form. The bedroom is flanked by a walk-in closet and a full bathroom containing a combination washer/dryer. Playful, bold colors enliven the interiors: blue stair treads and wood handrail and blue quartz countertop. Exterior materials of composite wood siding and cement board panels were chosen for low-maintenance and durability.

Bikers passing by the property often give the owner a thumbs-up, indicative of neighborhood enthusiasm and support for “building small.”

Collaborators on Side Street Suite include JCJ Construction and Bunkers and Associates. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.