The Cardinal ADU & Pool House

New Construction

Durham, North Carolina

Construction by Greg Ellis - Homes By Design

• 711 SF Fully Accessible Accessory Dwelling Unit

• 1 bed, 1 bath, with a front porch

• Exterior half-bath, outdoor shower, & pool storage

The Cardinal ADU & Pool House was built for a family in need of housing for their family member suffering from dementia. They wanted a design centered on aging-in-place principles, multi-purpose, and fit with the design of their existing house.

The dwelling is designed to be fully accessible for all levels of mobility, and with disease progression in mind. It has multiple entries - both stepped and zero-barrier, fence protection in case of wandering issues, under-cabinet lighting for navigation in low light, a zero-barrier shower, and structural sheathing is behind the bathroom drywall to increase location flexibility for any future grab bars that may be needed.

When unoccupied, the ADU will serve as a hangout and guest area. Regardless of occupant status, it provides an outdoor bathroom, shower, and changing area for anyone using the pool, and an exterior storage area for pool toys, lawn chairs, and games. The site was designed to accommodate a future hot tub, and multiple site drains were installed to remediate existing standing water issues.