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Dyna Builder’s The Quincho on The Seattle Times
Four Seattle DADUs reflect variety of ways Seattleites like to live
WALK THROUGH ANY Seattle neighborhood and you’ll start to notice them: Some are bold, some are more discreet; some are tall, some are low-lying; but they all share a compact footprint. Whether you know them as ADUs (accessory dwelling units), DADUs (detached accessory dwelling units) or simply “backyard cottages,” new tiny homes are popping up next to existing houses on lots across the city.
As the need for housing has grown increasingly urgent throughout the region, local and state regulations have been expanding to allow homeowners to add to their properties. These microstructures are often self-contained residential units, many with all the trappings of a traditional home. The city of Seattle permits both the attached and detached varieties of ADUs; either type must have a separate entrance, plus a kitchen and bathroom to qualify as an ADU.
While DADUs were technically allowed in Seattle starting in 2010, many barriers were in place in the building code that restricted their size and height. As a result, few homeowners added accessory structures during those early years. Then, in 2019, major legislative reforms led to a DADU boom, with an average of 900 units built annually since.
The numbers are expected to balloon even more. As part of the One Seattle Plan that went into effect in January, many parts of the city have shifted from “single-family” to “neighborhood residential” zoning, meaning that homeowners can now build up to four dwelling units on lots that previously allowed only one house. The idea is that creating more density by adding smaller, secondary homes preserves the rhythm of existing streets and lot lines while increasing Seattle’s housing stock, now and into the future.
So, what do these new micro homes look like, and how exactly are they used? More importantly, what do they signal about the future of domestic space in our city?
We asked four local architecture firms to share a recent example, and the diversity among them is striking. Just as the way we define “family” and make a home is endlessly evolving, today’s DADUs reflect the dizzying number of ways Seattleites like to live.
A Hub for Food and Family in Magnolia
Cultural cooking rituals aren’t usually the starting point for design, but that was the case for a recent project that came across architect John DeForest’s desk.
“There’s a tradition in Argentina of a quincho, which is a big outdoor entertaining space around a grill,” he says. His clients Cecilia Flombaum and Per Mikkelsen already had a home in Magnolia they loved, but the couple wanted to create this special type of outdoor space on their property to recreate an aspect of life in Argentina, where Flombaum grew up.
“We talked with John about how that concept could translate to Seattle, both culturally and practically,” explains Flombaum. She and Mikkelsen had recently purchased the lot behind their house, which had sat vacant for years (it was enclosed on all sides by houses and had no direct street access). The couple initially thought they would use the land for outdoor cooking and gathering. However, they soon expanded their vision into a complete guesthouse, as they often host friends and family visiting from abroad (Mikkelsen hails from Denmark).
“It’s not technically a DADU because it’s on a separate lot and is permitted as a single-family house,” DeForest explains. “But it’s a poster child for a thoughtful use of typical DADU square footage.”
Nestled alongside a large sequoia tree, the 914-square-foot structure is long and narrow in form, with a dining area at one end that opens completely to the adjacent barbecue and nearby pool. The glassy transparency of the home’s entertaining side contrasts the opaque panels of corrugated steel and fiber cement panels on the other end, which enclose a bathroom and sleeping loft and offer privacy. The neutral palette on the exterior also helps the structure recede into the background, minimizing visual distraction from the main house.
Even though they’re not enclosed by walls, the outdoor grill and lounge space are the center of the architecture. “It’s an entertainment pavilion,” DeForest says. “I pictured it as this flowing, happy, informal place where people move in and out.” When Flombaum and Mikkelsen aren’t hosting guests for asado or overnight stays, they can use the interior loft as a home office, accessible via a space-saving rolling steel ladder.
The structure represents the breadth of opportunities available for Seattleites looking to self-develop their properties, DADU or otherwise. “One of my favorite things about the new code is that it encourages people to build in ways that allow for more density in the future, even if they don’t use the structures in that way right now,” DeForest says.
Ideally, this self-development will lead to a greater variety of scale when it comes to Seattle’s homes, with smaller and midsize houses existing alongside larger ones. As DeForest puts it, “The mindset is to get more density, but also more diversity.”
An Artist’s Studio in West Seattle
After renting studio space for years, local ceramist Natasha Alphonse decided to look closer to home for a place to do her work.
“I had slowly been daydreaming about the things that would be important in a creative space for myself,” says Alphonse, whose earthy, elemental pottery takes the form of functional dinnerware and large-scale vessels. Turning to local architecture firm GO’C, which first gained recognition for its floating WA Sauna, a similarly compact project that set sail in 2015, the artist began transforming her dreams of an at-home studio into reality.
“It turned out that Natasha could get a better loan from the bank if (the structure) was permitted as a detached dwelling unit, rather than just a maker space,” explains Jon Gentry, who leads GO’C alongside co-founder Aimée O’Carroll. “So we decided to design an amazing studio for her work, but also it has a bathroom, a kitchen and a sleeping space to make it a full dwelling unit.”
When it came to the scale of the DADU, the architects were limited by the 1,000-square-foot maximum footprint regulation, which was in place in 2021 when they were permitting the project and remains in place today. To fit within the allowable footprint, the architects penciled out a plan for a shed-roofed structure with studio space on the bottom floor that opens to a patio and two kilns for firing pottery, and a sleeping loft above that doubles as an office. “It’s all usable space for Natasha’s work,” O’Carroll says.
The DADU sits at the corner of Alphonse’s West Seattle lot, fronting a narrow alley. “We didn’t want a lot of harsh western light coming in, so we walled off the alley side,” says Gentry of the design. “It almost becomes part of the fence line on the back of the property.”
The DADU’s entry faces the existing home’s front door, creating a dialogue between the two structures and establishing a new courtyard. The contained outdoor area comes in handy when Alphonse hosts events, open studios and workshops, and when she and her partner welcome friends and family for parties and overnight stays.
“The DADU makes the outdoor areas feel more integrated than when it was just an open backyard,” O’Carroll says. “It extends their living space.”
Ultimately, the dialogue between artist and architects brought a richer design sensibility to the project, as did the constraints of needing to establish the structure as a complete dwelling unit. In the future, the DADU can function as a gallery or communal maker space, or evolve into a full-scale rental property. For now, it is a place for Alphonse to connect to her biggest inspiration: nature.
“There’s nothing better than throwing pots all day with the slider door open and feeling connected to nature, despite living right in the city,” says the artist. “It’s visually quiet here, and peaceful.”
A New Front Door in North Seattle
When University of Washington architecture professor Ken Tadashi Oshima arrived in Seattle from London in 2005, he needed a home, and fast.
“I had very little time to buy anything,” he recalls, ultimately settling on a property in North Seattle with a small 1920s bungalow. “The house was set way back on the lot, so not many people bid on it because it didn’t fit into any clear path of development.”
Knowing that he eventually wanted to expand the house, Oshima bided his time. But when the pandemic hit and he was teaching from home, he finally felt ready. Luckily for him, recent zoning changes had upped the allowable square footage for DADUs to 1,000 square feet from the previous 750-square-foot maximum in his area. Turning to a fellow UW professor, architect Robert Hutchison, the duo began to envision an addition to the property. Soon, a design inspired by Oshima’s expertise in Japanese architecture took shape.
“We were thinking about the Japanese spatial concept of oku,” says Hutchison, who operates an architecture practice out of his own freestanding backyard studio in Fremont. Both a physical and psychological sensibility, oku inspired Hutchison’s strategy of designing from the inside out, creating spatial depth by choreographing a sequence of conceal-and-reveal. A series of spaces and framed views meander from the covered entry, through the house, out to the back courtyard and across a connecting bridge leading to the existing bungalow.
“(The project) was not just about creating the DADU, but also creating a series of outdoor rooms,” adds Oshima, referring to another Japanese architectural theory called “metabolism,” which celebrates layers added to and removed from buildings over time.
Inside, the DADU’s spaces flow seamlessly from one to the next. The lower ceiling height of the entry opens to a double-height living area and kitchen, with a private office space tucked around the opposite side of the entry. Above, an open loft functions as a music room, doubling as an area for sleep or study.
For Hutchison, the design is as specific to Oshima’s patterns of living as it is to the site. “The design developed directly from Ken’s extensive knowledge of Japanese architecture and space,” says Hutchison. “But it was also about allowing the existing trees and house to define the exterior and interior spatial narrative.”
In the end, while the DADU sensitively integrates into the site, it also gives the property a new character. Its dramatically sloped butterfly roof stands as a beacon, marking the new front door.
For Oshima, it has opened up an entirely new way of living. “Rather than one huge house, having a configuration of smaller spaces actually creates more variety,” he says, noting that he uses the DADU alternately as a workspace, to host parties or visiting elderly family members, and even just as a spot to eat breakfast and capture the morning light. “Houses need to be living — they should change and grow over time.”
A Backyard Cottage for Grandparents in Beacon Hill
There comes a point in life when many adults want to live closer to their parents. Whether for ease of caretaking — both for young children and for elders — or simply to enjoy time together, multigenerational living is the raison d’être behind many Seattleites deciding to add DADUs to their properties.
The real question, though, is exactly how close we want to live to our parents. For Beacon Hill resident Sara Knowles, the optimal distance ended up being one backyard away.
“It was dumb luck that we lived on a double lot and could build a new house from the ground up back here,” says Knowles, who along with her mother, Susan Knowles, set about building a compact backyard cottage for Susan and her husband, Tony Knowles, to reside in several months a year. (Sara and Logan are also owners of the much-loved Beacon Hill restaurant Homer.)
Architect Lauren Crocco got to work designing a home with all the creature comforts she could fit in 1,000 square feet. Early on, Crocco proposed a gabled roof, a more traditional building form that not only helped the cottage fit into the neighborhood but also created a greater sense of spaciousness inside. At the back of the DADU sits a single bedroom, with an open living and kitchen area taking up the rest of the footprint. A built-in dining nook functions as a space-saving measure, as does a rolling library ladder that leads to a sleeping loft tucked under the gable. A wood-burning stove is well used on chilly winter nights.
Outside, the cottage is clad in pre-weathered cedar shingles, which puts it in dialogue with the existing house, a 1916 Dutch Colonial. “We have a shingle house, so we wanted to feel like there was some continuity there,” says Sara, a former interior designer, of the material selection.
Positioning the front door of the cottage toward the main house also creates a sense of communion. “We just love sitting on the stoop of the cottage and watching our kids play,” says Sara. “It creates a social moment.”
As Susan and Tony slowly transition to moving into the cottage full time, the family is getting used to living closer together. “We didn’t originally have blinds on our windows, but about two weeks in, we got them,” laughs Susan. “It does feel quite private now, but part of all of this is that we don’t mind seeing each other.”
The tiny house provides the perfect balance of cohabitation that the family was craving. “They can maintain independence, while feeling a greater sense of connection,” says architect Crocco. “It’s a win-win.”
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meet the team
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
tessa franchini
principal
tessa@paxsonfay.com
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
amy golden
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Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
colby wood
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After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
paige childs
senior account executive + digital lead
paige@paxsonfay.com
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
martina povolo
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Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
tara lyons
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With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
Jamie Paxton
Communications Assistant
jamie@paxsonfay.com
Growing up in the Bay Area, Jamie made her way to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Psychology. Jamie first joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern during her senior year at the University of Washington and is excited to continue her journey with the team as a Communications Assistant. With a passion for writing and social media, Jamie is excited to bring her creativity and unique perspective to the role. Outside of work, you can find Jamie exploring local restaurants or picking up a good book.
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