ADUs – Accessory Dwelling Units – have never been more popular in Denver. Like many cities Denver doesn’t have enough housing, especially smaller and affordable housing, and ADUs are a good way of adding housing to existing neighborhoods while also providing homeowners with an opportunity to earn additional income.
This particular ADU is located in Whittier, one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, which is filled with brick Victorian homes on small lots. At less than 38 feet wide, the lot was a challenging one to fit an ADU on. But the owner’s decision to prioritize living space and design the building around just a single garage bay helped.
The ground floor is split between the single garage bay, interior stairs and utility space, and a room that could be used as a bedroom, living room, or office.
Upstairs there is a studio with a tidy galley kitchen, sitting area, room for a king bed, and a bath. Space under the eaves is used as storage, something that’s always in short supply both in old houses and small ADUs.
Jeff was excellent to work with and provided a phenomenal design that was efficient to build.
G. Dupart, Owner
The exterior massing was modeled on original carriage houses that were built behind many homes in the neighborhood. Fish scale shingles on the gables and an historic color scheme echo the details of the existing home.
By combining multiple functions into a compact footprint, the ADU increases the value and usefulness of the property while preserving outdoor space and complementing the neighborhood’s design fabric—in fact, shortly after completion the owners’ neighbors across the alley contacted Jeff Daigle Architect about building an ADU of their own!
If you are in the metro Denver area and are interested in adding an ADU to your property, contact me for a consultation!