Chicago Coach House

ADU / Chicago, Illinois

A couple came to FDA interested in building a coach house as a rental unit in Chicago using the newly adopted Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) provisions. Their site flares wider in the back due to an angled adjacent street. This unique site geometry presented an opportunity to design a garage with an ADU above while maintaining ample yard space for their children to play in. The clients asked FDA to incorporate sustainable design strategies wherever possible and to look into participating in a certified sustainable home program.  To help to achieve this a ground source heat pump (geothermal) system will efficiently heat and cool the structure, a high-performance building envelope will reduce energy consumption and recycled and renewable materials and finishes will be incorporated.