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All-In-One Minneapolis ADU

Our proposal for a standard Minneapolis ADU provides both a garage that can be used by the homeowner for a car, bike, or otherwise, and a dwelling which can comfortably host a family. Its asymmetrical roofline matches this lofted layout, and provides a distinct but human scaled new residence. 

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Minneapolis, MN

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Schematic Design

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1 Home

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2026

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Flexibility by Design

By orienting the ADU perpendicular to the existing house our proposal maximizes its length to the available parcel width thus allowing the most amount of shared yard space. The ADU is then subdivided into three zones: garage, flexible living zone, and private living area. The inclusion of the garage allows homeowners to continue parking their car, but it can also be more than simple vehicle storage. The garage, as many Minnestotans use them, can be an office, workspace, storage shed, or equipment storage for cargo bikes or sports equipment; and, because it's fully heated and part of the building enclosure, it can be used as a spare bedroom or home office. Depending on preference, the design allows for no garage (a fully accessible layout), 1-car, 1-car with extra storage, or 2-car layouts, all while preserving the standard floor plan. 

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Building Density, Block by Block

Sites across Minneapolis vary in width, but generally range from 40-50 feet in width, with an average size of 50 feet. To accommodate these differences, our ADU (designed for the 45’ site) is designed to easily stretch or shrink. The center flexible living area changes in layout, while the garage, bathroom, and bedrooms remain static. The front living room also has the option of being used as a dining, social, or sleeping space depending on preference. 

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The proposal can stretch its “flex zone” to match any potential standard Minneapolis Parcel. This allows the ADU to fit on over 90,000 parcels in the city. 

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In addition to being flexible in width, the fully heated garage compenent allows residents to use the space as more than just storage. This can include workspace, living space, sleeping space, or anything else. Accordian doors can be changed to storefront glazing, windows, swing doors, or anything else.  And, layout options offer the opportunity to add a parking space or remove it entirely for a fully 1-story experience. 

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Depending on the view, the ADU can be understated or a main feature of the property. Its shed roof blends garage, nordic, and vernacular languages.

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Neighborhood Scale

Part shed, part cabin, part garage, the ADU blends typological and vernacular elements to provide beauty inside and out. Its roofline and cladding borrow regional nordic materials common to many city home additions and northern lake cabins. Its interiors showcase healthy, bio-based materials and plentiful daylight with many opportunities for cross ventilation; allowing passive cooling in the summer, while a radiant slab and compact footprint make heating from the floor efficient and cozy. 

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High Performance, Low Impact

The ADU is monopoly framed from 2x6 exterior walls and LVL roof members. A continuous WRB tracks the perimeter from the foundation to roof, and ensures above-code air-tightness. The cavity and exterior insulation is wood-fiber-based insulation, which has superior thermal performance and vapor permeability. High-performance tilt-turn windows and skylights provide excellent thermal comfort. Heating is supplied from a radiant slab, and cooling by wall mounted mini splits supplied from an air-source heat pump. All systems and cooking equipment are fully electric and net-zero-ready. This approach utilizes standard construction practices blended with lessons from passive-house construction to shelter against harsh winters while considering a sustainable future.  

• All Electric
  
• Net Zero Ready
  
• Zolar Ready Roof
  
• Minimal Operating Energy/Costs
  
• Compact Building Form
  
• Bio-based materials
  
• Passive Cooling & Lighting

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