Backyard Bliss: An ADU Made for Summer
April 17, 2025
The Backyard Bungalow, designed by SALA Architects. Photo by Round Three Photography.
PROJECT GALLERY
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are often designed as a small apartment above a garage. When homeowners in Minneapolis’s East Harriet neighborhood decided to replace their three-car garage with a two-car garage and ADU, they took a different approach, with striking results.
The multifunctional Backyard Bungalow, designed by SALA Architects, places an airy studio apartment on the ground level, on grade with an adjacent patio. The arrangement ensures barrier-free access for overnight guests and aging family members. It also creates a seamless environment for summer living: With the sliding pocket door on the north wall and the bifold door on the east wall wide open, the ADU doubles as an indoor/outdoor hub for backyard gatherings.
Photos 1–10: The Backyard Bungalow features wide sliding and bifold glass doors, clerestory windows, efficient cabinetry (including a built-in daybed that converts to a full Murphy bed), and a small loft above the bathroom. Photos by Round Three Photography.
“The project gave us an opportunity to leverage the numerous benefits this building type offers—especially those related to sustainability and urban densification,” says SALA Architects principal Jody McGuire, AIA. “One of the most sustainable architectural choices is building small. The Backyard Bungalow optimizes its footprint by serving multiple purposes: It functions as a guest suite, entertainment hub, and home office. Efficient land use, energy-conscious design, stormwater management, and ecological landscaping combine to offer indoor-outdoor connectivity that is both welcoming and environmentally responsible. This project has a forward-thinking approach to multifunctional housing and redefines what it means to live sustainably in the city.”
The Backyard Bungalow project team included SALA Architects, Terra Firma, Biota Landscapes, and James LaChance.
Related Articles
