Sunflower
This Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) began with a serendipitous encounter. 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.
To create a sustainable project, we used Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) to construct the home. SIPS are a modular construction method. Instead of building the exterior walls in individual layers, the materials (studs, insulation, and sheathing) arrive sandwiched together in a panel. The panels are custom made for each project, which allows them to “snap” together quickly on-site - much like a Lego set. Sonja was interested in SIPs for their airtight, continuous insulation and reduced construction waste. The noise resistance provided by SIPs is an additional benefit because of the ADU's urban location. A post-construction blower-door test confirmed the air tightness and efficiency Sunflower.
Project Collaborators include:
Uber Built, Bunkers and Associates Structural Engineering, and Marvin Windows. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.
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.
To create a sustainable project, we used Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) to construct the home. SIPS are a modular construction method. Instead of building the exterior walls in individual layers, the materials (studs, insulation, and sheathing) arrive sandwiched together in a panel. The panels are custom made for each project, which allows them to “snap” together quickly on-site - much like a Lego set. Sonja was interested in SIPs for their airtight, continuous insulation and reduced construction waste. The noise resistance provided by SIPs is an additional benefit because of the ADU's urban location. A post-construction blower-door test confirmed the air tightness and efficiency Sunflower.
Project Collaborators include:
Uber Built, Bunkers and Associates Structural Engineering, and Marvin Windows. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.
Project Year: 2022
Country: United States
