Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | St. Paul, Minnesota | Awards and Publications: Featured in Dwell Magazine (Nov. Dec. 2023 print edition), upcoming Star Tribune Home of the Month, Published in (and on the cover of) ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution, SIPA Award Winner, Midwest Home Award Winner
This Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) began with a serendipitous encounter. Read more While teaching a pre-architecture course at his alma mater, St. Olaf College, Chris met Isaiah, an undergraduate art student. Chris was so impressed with Isaiah's work that he hired him for a summer internship. After the summer ended, we received an inquiry email - from Isaiah’s mom, Sonja! She wanted an ADU. Conveniently, we also wanted Isaiah to intern again... and he spent his next summer internship designing his mom's ADU.
The completed ADU is named Sunflower for its cheery yellow exterior. Although a bright color, it is surprisingly well hidden from the street view because of its location tucked behind the main home. The playful colors continue inside, including the green kitchen cabinetry and bright shower tile. The playful shower tile pattern was generated with a “paint-by-numbers” approach; Isaiah printed out a black and white grid, and Sonja colored it in to designate her selections.
A key feature of Sunflower is its lack of garage, which is typically located on the 1st level of an ADU. By forgoing a garage, we could dedicate both levels to living space. The first floor has the entertaining spaces, including the kitchen and living room. In contrast to “typical” Minnesotan ADUs, which have a garage on the main level, this layout allows for direct access to the garden from the living spaces. Upstairs is the bedroom, bathroom, and laundry. An exposed glulam beam (a structural beam made of layers of wood) is used to support the roof while adding warmth to the upper level.
