Located in Golden, Colorado, this accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and artist studio were designed for an artist who grew up in the main house and wanted to create a comfortable home for her mother while keeping an art studio close by. The ADU fits all essential functions within a modest footprint, offering thoughtful spaces that feel connected to the surrounding site. A screened porch extends daily living into the outdoors and invites long summer evenings spent in the fresh Colorado air, while still offering the ease of shelter.
Steve Scribner
Morgan Law
Open Concepts
Lopez Smolens Associates
Open Concepts LLC
Shape Architecture Studio
1,330 sf
Golden, CO
The roof design becomes one of the defining gestures of the project. The trusses, rotated into an upside-down profile, create a thin elegant edge that draws the eye up the wood soffit and helps balance the more grounded mass below. Its extended length shades the southern exposure from the high summer sun, keeping the interior cool and protected, while still welcoming soft, diffused light and winter warmth when the sun dips closer to the horizon.
Slatted wood elements, finished in the same tone, wrap the screened porch, offering a sense of privacy and helps to define different zones in the compact layout. Inside, the spaces flow simply and efficiently, proving that small living can still feel open and intentional. Just steps away, the art studio supports both painting and woodworking, echoing the form and material language of the ADU to create a cohesive pair.
Together, these structures show how building small can still meet multiple needs, offering flexibility, comfort, and a thoughtful approach for aging gracefully in a familiar place.
