Resourceful Retreat

The project is a small backyard accessory building, designed and constructed by the architect, at their property, utilizing readily available materials and ordinary construction techniques and tools.  The building contains living and sleeping space, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.  At three-hundred square feet of occupiable space, every detail and design choice is carefully considered in terms of aesthetics, function, constructability, and economy.

An existing detached garage, a large mature oak tree, and zoning setbacks constrain and inform the siting and size of the building.  To minimize impact to the tree, the structure is raised off the ground on concrete piers.  The building footprint is twelve feet by twenty feet, a proportion chosen to accommodate the module of common building materials, increasing material efficiency and reducing waste.  Twelve-foot-tall studs establish the interior height.  Stock length ten-foot-long corrugated panels are used for exterior cladding.  Metal trim is detailed to maximize use of stock sheet sizes and minimize in-field fabrications.  Polygal panels create a ribbon clerestory around the building.    

Interior finishes include salvaged oak flooring, poplar trim and stair treads, and exposed framing.  Cabinetry is a mix of off-the-shelf units and site-built birch plywood pieces.