Elevated green house with wooden columns and large windows, surrounded by trees, featuring a child walking nearby.

Stilts ADU

  • Propel Architecture designed this NE Portland ADU situated in a compact yard and partnered with Owen Gabbert, LLC to build it. The Stilts ADU was built on a perimeter grid of steel columns (in place of a former dilapidated garage), creating a covered storage/workspace and outdoor living area in the same footprint as the new living space. Sacrificing back yard space is often on the minds of the clients, and this solution had minimal impact on the usable space. The elevated building boasts plenty of natural light and a view of the surrounding trees. Details like the wood stove and salvaged tongue and groove wood floors and ceilings add to the treehouse feel. The simple bath and kitchen, which includes a built-in dining and work table, are compact and sleekly functional.

  • Architect: Propel Architecture
    Structural Engineer: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc.
    Photographer: Josh Partee

Green house on stilts with metal roof and large windows, surrounded by trees, with a wooden fence and a man walking nearby on a sunny day.
Elevated green house with wooden support beams, large windows, and a small child walking on the ground level. Trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
Elevated green house with wooden supports near a gravel path, surrounded by trees on a sunny day.
Modern kitchen interior with wooden ceiling, beams, and flooring. A man sits at a wooden bar counter with a tablet. There's a pendant light above the counter, and a white shag rug on the floor. The kitchen includes cabinets and a range hood.
Modern bedroom with wooden ceiling, exposed beams, and hardwood floor, featuring a wood-burning stove, large windows, a wooden bed with gray bedding, and decorative wall art.
Modern bathroom with a white vanity, black faucet, illuminated mirror, window with wooden frame, and hexagonal floor tiles.
Bright modern room with wooden ceiling, floor, kitchen island, stool, pendant light, windows, wood stove, and greenery outside.
Elevated green house with wooden supports and staircase, surrounded by trees and sky.
Open-concept living room with wooden ceiling and floors, featuring a fireplace, large windows, a white rug, and an adjacent kitchen with an island.
Minimalist bedroom with wooden bed frame, gray bedding, wooden flooring, sliding closet doors, wall-mounted reading lights, and alphabet wall art.