The Lift ADU

A high-performance home designed with timeless beauty.

This custom designed contemporary ADU was created to take advantage of passive solar principles while beautifully integrating into the surrounding context. The roof overhangs, window placement, sun screens, and thermal insulation manage interior comfort first, before mechanical heating and cooling systems kick on. This results in low energy bills for the life of the building and provides for a quiet and comfortable interior. The ADU's deep roof overhangs and exterior patio area offers plenty of weather protected outdoor space for year-round use in our moderate northwest climate.

The roof form was conceived as a dynamic composition to create visual interest from the property's side yard and street views. The south row of columns support sunshades and a cable system for climbing plants to provide additional shading from the summer heat as well as privacy from the main house. The exposed structural connections and framing demonstrate the craft and attention to detail of the building and give the ADU a unique base, middle, and top.

Right at the maximum ADU size of 800 square feet, this ADU offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an open double height great room. The visually open steel and cable stair railing connect the kitchen/living/dining area with an office loft space on the second floor.  An accent wall of vertical cedar fins unify the space with a timeless, natural beauty, bringing texture and color into the interior.

We worked closely with our client and the contractor to tune the building for their efficiency goals and functional needs.  The ground floor offers an easily accessible and universal living area for this family to age in place, together and gracefully.

More information on our ADU design services:
http://www.propelstudio.com/accessory-dwelling-units-adu/

City of Portland Oregon ADU Resource Page:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/36676/