Taking advantage of zoning laws brought in to tackle a housing crisis in Ann Arbor, Michigan, T+E+A+M Architects utilized the land surrounding a single-family residential home to create an independent unit to serve as another one-bedroom unit (also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit). Employing a building technique popular in Scandinavia that alleviates the necessity for heavy site work, the 730-square foot home was built with shallow foundation technology, using a shell of structural insulated panels made from a combination of metal, cement board, and mesh.
The two-story unit appears semi-industrial in appearance from its exterior, which is balanced with an airy interior that is slickly finished in wood and concrete to deliver a stylish, contemporary open living space. A kitchen, living room and dining room share the open ground floor along with a separate bathroom, while a single double room sits on the upper mezzanine level. Follow the studio on Instagram.
Photography © Chris Miele for T+E+A+M Architects