Granny flats, mother-in-law units, coach houses – whatever their name – backyard dwellings are gaining traction in cities around the country. Located in the heart of Wicker Park, Chicago, this Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) is part of the city’s pioneering effort to create housing variety and provide quality living in high-density urban areas. Only a handful have been completed since the reveal of the initial pilot program in 2021. Our team took full advantage of having the opportunity to design one of them and delivered a beautiful backyard standout.

We envisioned this ADU to be more than just a typical granny’s flat while maintaining a contextual rear façade on the alley side. Although the ordinance only allows for a maximum of 700 square feet, this space has all the comfort there is to be offered in an efficiently-planned unit. Stacked on top of a two-car garage, the ADU provides a full bedroom, an office niche, a living room, and a kitchen with an island. To take advantage of the high ceilings of the sloped roof, a bonus loft area was created above the entry stairs for afternoon naps or Sunday morning reading. The exterior fiber cement panels give a soft, calming texture while glowing under the moonlight. Furthermore, the simplicity of the building was accentuated through our creative use of linear exterior panels, presenting a stunning urban jewel box.