Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Exterior Photography
© James Florio

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Image 2 of 23Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, Beam, WindowsBoulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, CountertopBoulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, Beam, FacadeBoulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - More Images+ 18

  • Architects: Tres Birds
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  800 ft²
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Photographs
    Photographs:James Florio
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Anderson Arch Series Windows, Aspect LED, Ikea, PORSELANOSA, Paragon Stairs, Signature Services Roofing
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Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Image 2 of 23
© James Florio

Text description provided by the architects. One of the newest housing trends in American backyards is the A.D.U. or Accessory Dwelling Unit. An A.D.U. is a small house located on the same lot as a single-family home. It’s an independent residential unit that can be a guest house, a home for extended family, or even an office or a party space.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Image 8 of 23
© James Florio

Tres Birds recently designed and built this cozy A.D.U., which echoes the aesthetic of the main house. The new 800-square-foot fully-functional home features a kitchen/dining space, bedroom, bathroom, and flexible loft space, which could be additional living space, an office, or a second bedroom. It even got the attention of the national media. Thanks to Dezeen and the Architect’s Newspaper for their coverage.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Image 22 of 23
Plans

Efficiently designed, the small home reuses and repurposes a number of materials. It’s made primarily of reclaimed bowling alley lanes and plywood. The warm-toned 50-year-old bowling alley wood is used as a structurally independent mezzanine floor system and laminated together to create the east-side timber frame window system. Gleaming reject tile from a Boulder artisan is used throughout the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, Countertop
© James Florio

The skylight is made from a dichroic glass panel left over from a past Tres Birds project. As the angle of the sun changes throughout the day and season, so do the visual effects within the living space, creating a vibrant show of colored light throughout. Window locations and roof overhangs were designed specifically to maximize natural light in the home while providing adequate shading for the summer sun. In the winter, the continuous standing seam exterior is designed to be low maintenance and to quickly shed snow from its pitched roof.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Countertop, Sink
© James Florio

The home is furnished with mid-century pieces by Isamu Noguchi (lamp), Sori Yanagi (stool), and Charles and Ray Eames (table, chairs), with artworks by Berger&Fohr, Gregg Deal, and Mike Moore The A.D.U. scores well for energy efficiency. The envelope is tight and well insulated. Radiant floor heating and cooling keep the indoor climate comfortable.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Interior Photography, Beam, Windows
© James Florio

Lighting, security, HVAC, and the operable skylight can all be controlled by the occupant’s phone, integrating the systems and cutting down on energy waste. The home received a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 33, not far off from Europe’s stringent Passive House requirement of HERS 20. For reference, a new standard home scores HERS 100, and an Energy Smart home scores HERS 85.

Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds - Image 18 of 23
© James Florio

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Cite: "Boulder A.D.U. / Tres Birds" 11 Feb 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/976646/boulder-adu-tres-birds> ISSN 0719-8884

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