This ADU in Texas Looks Like a Miniature MidcenturyThe glass-and-limestone structure by Matt Garcia Design evokes the heyday of modernism, and provides an elegant stay for an...
A Couple Convert Their Parents’ Garage Into a Transforming ADUFlexibility rules in an airy Southern California garage-turned-ADU that gives two professionals the chance to ride the wave of...
8 Modern In-Law UnitsYou may recognize an Accessory Dwelling Unit (or ADU) by one of its many other names, including in-law unit, granny flat, laneway...
A Streamlined ADU in Texas Pays Homage to Midcentury ArchitectureM Gooden Design creates a striking guesthouse next to a historic 20th-century home in Denton.
22 ADU Floor Plans That Make the Most of the BackyardThese compact layouts create ideal guesthouses, tiny offices, art studios, and more.
A Modest ADU in Michigan Prioritizes Energy Efficiency and AffordabilityThe 730-square-foot residence by T+E+A+M is one of the first accessory dwelling units to be built in Ann Arbor under the city’s...
Why Now, More Than Ever, the ADU Is the Future of HomeWhether it serves as an investment, backyard office, or intergenerational housing, the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) has never...
A Svelte ADU Gives a Los Angeles Bungalow Room to BreatheThe backyard dwelling by OKB Architecture packs a large program into a narrow lot, allowing a family to spread outward from their...
A Bright Red ADU Anchors a Lot on L.A.’s WestsideWith a clever arrangement comprising a cottage and a primary residence, local design firm ORA gives a family outdoor access at...
These New Prefab ADUs Promise Affordable Housing for Years to ComeIf you provide OBY Cooperative with a 99-year backyard lease, they’ll build an ADU—at no cost to you—that will pay out dividends...
A Luminous Midcentury Home and ADU in Los Angeles Ask $3.2MThe Schott House, designed by A. Quincy Jones and respectfully updated by Cory Buckner, hasn’t hit the market in 26 years.
Budget Breakdown: A Playful, Postmodern ADU in Los Angeles Is Built for $249KBunch Design imagines a colorful, dynamic backyard dwelling that looks and feels larger than its 850 square feet.
With Three Good Reasons and $400K, an L.A. Couple Build the ADU of Their DreamsIn housing-strapped Los Angeles, a designer couple take on their own backyard build—and create a new rental in the process.
A Designer’s $210K Prefab ADU Captures the Allure of California LivingOni Lazarus of AO Studio commissions Cover to add a svelte prefab rental unit to the backyard of her Los Angeles home.
A Blue ADU With Cloud-Like Doors Represents the Los Angeles SkyArchitectural designer Ben Warwas converts a dilapidated two-car garage in Los Angeles into a whimsical backyard dwelling.
A Portland Designer Revamps Her Backyard With a Peaceful ADU and a Tiny Tree HouseSee how architectural designer Grey Shaeffer of Willa Work transformed the space with two dreamy retreats.
A Two-Unit ADU in Los Angeles Offers Inspired Spaces for Creative TenantsArchitect Max Kuo transforms a back house and garage into a white-gabled duplex for a diverse mix of residents.
A Creative Couple’s Backyard ADU Makes Room for a Gallery and Art StudioCleverly repurposing an existing garage, this flexible space in Santa Monica, California, allows the pair to work, recharge, and...
A Color-Blocked ADU in Los Angeles Takes a Cue From Talking HeadsThe 750-square-foot home, aptly named Stop Making Sense, recalls the chunky proportions of David Byrne’s iconic gray suit.
Budget Breakdown: A Trio of Friends Build a Backyard ADU in Los Angeles for $252KThe 1,000-square-foot dwelling mixes raw and refined materials in a cost-effective strategy.
Salvaged Wood From a Neglected Shed Shines Again in This Los Angeles ADUA couple enlist woodworking experts to turn the run-down shack in their backyard into a gleaming guesthouse.
This New Company Wants to Help Homeowners Turn Their Unused Spaces Into Rentable ADUsThe Los Angeles–based design-build company, Homestead, converts underutilized garages or backyard sheds into ADUs that can be...
Los Angeles Fast-Tracks New ADUs by Offering Homeowners Pre-Approved PlansTeaming up with emerging firms, the city’s Standard Plan Program makes it easier and more affordable than ever to build a...
Construction Diary: A Self-Taught Designer Makes a Career Switch After Building an Artful ADUAn advertising strategist in Portland, Oregon, builds a minimalist retreat in her own backyard—and launches her own design...
Why Is Dwell Making ADUs?Editor-in-chief William Hanley and CEO Zach Klein explain our new backyard house initiative.
The Living Is (Mostly) Easy for the Residents of Three California ADUsBackyard units are the new normal for everyone from renters to entire families looking for a starter home.
Want to Design Your Own ADU? This Prefab Company Gives You the ToolsType Five lets clients choose everything from floor plans to finishes via its website configurator, and then manages the rest.
7 Prefab Companies Ready to Build Your New Backyard OfficeThese prefab ADUs are the perfect solution for those in need of a separate home office.
A Family in Poland Adds an Origami-Inspired Retreat to Their BackyardThe owners’ fascination with Zen rock gardens informed the design of this tiny ADU.
This Bay Area Company Is Offering Svelte Backyard Prefabs That Start at $139KSpacial Homes creates customizable ADUs for homeowners to install in their empty yards as rentals or guesthouses.
Mighty Buildings Makes Stylish, 3D-Printed Prefabs Starting at $115KAn Oakland startup combines prefab design and 3D printing to create cost-saving backyard homes.
Budget Breakdown: A Cozy Studio Tops an L.A. Garage For $220KSpurred by a recent state law aimed at easing California’s housing shortage, a Los Angeles family turns to architect Martin...
ADUs Might Not Be Making Chicago More Affordable, But They Might Make It More SustainableAn all-electric project by Latent Design isn’t exactly cheap, but it keeps fossil fuels out of the home.
29 Granny Flats That Put Guests Up in StyleFrom detached studios to separate wings for in-laws, these granny flats give Grandma the royal treatment.
This Bright and Airy Backyard Cottage in Los Angeles Feels Like a Cabin in the WoodsOriginally an ADU for aging parents, this cottage in Solano Canyon is at once lofty and snug.
Budget Breakdown: A $614K Renovation Carves Up an L.A. Bungalow Like a Slice of Swiss CheeseShin Shin Architecture brings playful porosity and a fresh ADU to a 1923 single-family home.