New barn-inspired ADU 'looks like it was always there' - Evanston RoundTable

The RoundTable’s Two-Minute House Walk column takes readers inside some of Evanston’s most distinctive dwellings. We aim to showcase the history, style, architecture and design of homes throughout the city, from grand lakefront residences to cozy coach houses, modern apartments and everything in between.

The new accessory dwelling unit, as seen from the alley. Credit: Joerg Metzner

An accessory dwelling unit complete with a cupola and weather vane now sits comfortably along an alley in far northwest Evanston.

Architects Dian Keehan and Christopher Oakley teamed up on the design and construction of the new ADU behind their home, which dates from 1926.

A modern version of a traditional coach house, the ADU has dramatic living space above a generous multipurpose garage.

The accessory dwelling unit as seen from the main house at dusk. Credit: Joerg Metzner

Back in 2002, when Keehan and Oakley moved to their home, they knew the two-bedroom house would need an addition for their growing family. The lot was overgrown but was large enough (50 by 150 feet) that the zoning code would allow for an addition.

A house that stayed in one family

Keehan and Oakley’s European cottage-like main house was designed by architect Arthur H. Knox. Knox also designed Evanston’s Fire Station No. 2, 702 Madison St., and the Wilmette Masonic Temple.

The house was built by two Swedish brothers, Arvid and Henry Hulteen, and remained in the brothers’ family from 1926 until Keehan and Oakley bought it in 2001. The two-bedroom brick and stucco house was one of the first on the block when it was built and is distinctive because of its steeply pitched roof and brick details at the entrance. The original craftsmanship was meticulous, Keehan said.

The 1926 main house, seen from the front, has a distinctive steeply pitched roof. Credit: Joerg Metzner

House addition, garage tear-down

A 2004 addition, designed by Keehan, won a City of Evanston Preservation Award in the category of “Sensitive Addition and Alteration.” The addition echoed the steep roof pitches, brick and stucco materials and unique details of the main house as well as maintaining the same eave design. The addition has generous setbacks from the east and west lot lines in order to allow for the deep eaves.

The 2004 addition to the main house is seen in this view from the upper level of the ADU. Credit: Joerg Metzner

The home’s 1929 garage, with a steep roof and interior loft, was in need of significant repair. It was difficult to maneuver into and too small for parking and storage needs. It had served the family well, but it became clear that a new garage was needed and the extra space an ADU could provide would be helpful for visiting relatives and the couple’s now college-age children. And it was also an opportune time to deal with some flooding issues in the rear yard.

This 1929 garage was too small for parking and storage needs. It was torn down and the ADU was built in its place. Credit: Dian Keehan

Barn vernacular

Both Oakley and Keehan grew up in rural areas and have a fondness for barns. Keehan said her design inspiration for both the exterior and interior of the garage ADU was a contemporary version of the vernacular barn.

Also important was how the design would work visually with the unique features of the main house. Keehan pointed out that coach houses in Evanston’s historic district often replicate details which relate to those of the main house. In this case, the intent was to complement, rather than match, the house’s exterior materials and details by using rust-toned fiber cement clapboard and board and batten siding.

The ADU’s cupola and its weather vane are obvious barn-inspired details. The illuminated cupola was made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. “It is taller than we are,” Keehan said. Historically cupolas were for light and vent, but this one is “decorative … more of an anchor.”

The ADU also sits at the back of its lot, complementing the main house rather than mimicking it. “It’s comfortably back there,” Keehan said. “We love old barns. On farms sometimes the barns are more distinctive than the homes.”

Upper level

Most of the ADU’s upper floor is one high-ceilinged space with an exposed ridge beam over the kitchen, pool table and couch areas. The open floor plan provides flexibility for a variety of activities and arrangements. The bedroom, bathroom and utility room with laundry are on the west end. Keehan replicated the loft door of the original garage to access a storage area.

Carpenter-built sliding doors on the kitchen cabinets replicate the cabinets in the summer kitchen where Keehan grew up. The kitchen island has adaptable flip up counters and a retractable table.

The ceiling fans are “fandeliers” with reversible blades for summer and winter.

“Fandelier” in main living space. Credit: Joerg Metzner
Stair to upper level with hooks for hanging space on salvaged barn wood. Credit: Joerg Metzner
Salvaged barn wood shelf with original address sign. Credit: Joerg Metzner

The 16-inch-deep ridge beam is clad with salvaged wood from the Green Bay area. Salvaged barn wood was also used for finishes in other parts of the project.

The bathroom has a steam shower and heated bench. The shower floor tile pattern is reminiscent of the gravel road Keehan grew up on.

Upper level bathroom. Credit: Joerg Metzner
Interior vew of tiled steam shower with heated bench. Credit: Joerg Metzner
The shower has a “gravel” tile floor. Credit: Joerg Metzner
A ceramic wall piece created by Keehan’s sister is used as bathroom art. Credit: Joerg Metzner

A combination high-efficiency tankless hot water heater and boiler provides domestic hot water plus water for an in-floor heating system. The in-floor heating has upper level and garage floor zones. To keep costs down, Keehan and Oakley installed the radiant heat tubing in the concrete garage floor slab and on the bottom of the upper level subfloor themselves.

Upper level recessed porch with hand crafted metal railing and view of main house Credit: Joerg Metzner

Facing the house is a recessed open porch (generous enough to be slept on). The porch’s metal railing was fabricated and installed by an Evanston Township High School graduate.

“You feel like you’re in a tree house up here,” Keehan said.

Garage level

The first floor of the 950-square-foot ADU is a heated multipurpose space with room for three cars as well as zones for Oakley’s bike repair hobby, canoe storage, a charging station for a future electric car and a dog washing area with hot water. A large TV for sports and movie watching “provides for fun gatherings,” Keehan said.

A garage level south-facing view of the main house, with outdoor plants that will winter inside. Credit: Joerg Metzner

The garage is well lit by windows in the north-facing 8-foot-tall garage doors and south-facing glass French doors which can be opened to the yard. A double Dutch door leads to the interior stairway.

The ADU’s presence has given the rear yard the feeling of a courtyard, and the regrading associated with the project has solved the flooding problems.

The Dutch door entrance to the ADU from the rear yard. Credit: Joerg Metzner

The ADU is generously set in from the rear lot line for easy maneuvering into the garage. To figure out the minimum turning radii into the garage, they chalked out various layouts at the Lovelace Park parking lot.

The project included adding a backup generator. To avoid supply chain issues, Keehan and Oakley ordered certain products, such as windows, garage doors and the boiler before construction even started.

The ADU in the rear yard, viewed from the side of the main house. Credit: Joerg Metzner

Challenges of ADU design

Keehan said that neighbors, recent trick-or-treaters and guests often comment that the ADU “looks like it was always there.”

Architects Christopher Oakley and Dian Keehan in the kitchen of their new ADU. Credit: Joerg Metzner

Putting on her architect’s hat, Keehan added in an email: “For anyone considering an ADU, it is important to approach the property comprehensively. A detached ADU must respond to its specific site. The prevalent ‘formulative’ approach to ADUs neglects the unique opportunities each property may offer. While technical factors must always be addressed, what you will be looking at from your home is important. Shaping the outdoor living space and environment created between a new structure and the primary house is a significant consideration early in the design process. Just because it’s ‘accessory’ does not mean it shouldn’t be thoughtfully designed. Design matters, and quality design is not limited to large or expensive projects. It’s a commitment to the process and final product by both the owner and architect.”

New barn-inspired ADU ‘looks like it was always there’ – Evanston RoundTable