Mother-daughter dadu

This detached accessory dwelling unit creates a bright, sun-filled home for multi-generational living on a north Seattle lot. The traditional building form fits snugly into the fabric of its neighborhood and complements the craftsman bungalow style of the original house. A wood and steel accent at the entry and roof deck adds a touch of modern design.

The double-height living room connects to the second-floor with an overlook, creating a spacious and fun feeling in the compact home. Skylights, large windows, and vaulted ceilings fill the spaces with light and give them an airy feel. A small second floor deck provides personal outdoor space and a visual connection to the primary residence.

The building is designed and built to be energy efficient, healthy, and durable. It exemplifies our principles of a high quality home. It is framed with reclaimed lumber and insulated with cellulose. The building is wrapped with cork exterior insulation beneath a rainscreen siding system. Triple-pane aluminum-clad wood windows are well insulated and bring the visual warmth of wood into the home. Careful sealing of the building envelope by the Targa team reached a level of air-tightness double the Passive House standard. To set them up for success, the building was designed with air sealing details in mind, including an overframed roof overhang. An energy recovery ventilation system provides continuous filtered fresh air throughout the house while retaining heat and humidity. Energy efficient heat pumps provide space conditioning and hot water. The house is equipped with an electric vehicle charging station and solar panels.

Freehand Studio also designed the interior of the home, including finishes, lighting, and custom metalwork. Interior finishes were selected for their environmental profile and for their timeless beauty.

While framing the house, the builders saw the beauty of the old growth reclaimed lumber and suggested making a counter top out of it. This became a special part of the project, telling the story of the ancient forest that once stood where the city is now. Close collaboration like this between the project team brought this home to life.

This home was featured on the 2023 NW Green Home Tour.

Project team: Targa Homes, OG Engineering