ADU Living
A backyard unit doesn't have to be a home. Studios, offices, workshops, and gathering spaces — ADUs are as flexible as you are.
Remote work isn't going away, but working from your kitchen table wasn't meant to be permanent. A backyard office is a real workspace with a real door between your work life and home life. No commute, no distractions, and when you close that door at 5pm, you're actually done.
Many homeowners are building ADU-sized structures specifically as offices or studios. The permitting is often simpler for non-dwelling structures, and the investment frequently pays for itself through reduced overhead if you're self-employed or running a small business.
Artists, woodworkers, potters, musicians — creative work needs dedicated space. An ADU provides a purpose-built studio that can accommodate the ventilation, lighting, soundproofing, and storage that creative work requires. It's yours, on your property, and you don't pay a landlord for it.
Some of the most meaningful ADU projects serve community purposes. Local nonprofit organizations use donated ADU space for tutoring programs, counseling services, food pantries, and meeting space. Faith communities build guest units for visiting speakers or families in transition. Neighborhood associations use shared ADUs as gathering spaces for block meetings and events.
If you're building for community or charitable purposes, Slab Labs may be able to help at no cost. Learn about our giving back program.
A backyard yoga studio, home gym, or meditation space is more than a luxury — it's an investment in daily wellbeing that eliminates the friction of driving to a gym. At 400–600 square feet, a fitness-oriented ADU is on the smaller and more affordable end of the spectrum while adding meaningful value to your property and daily life.
Whether it's a studio, office, or gathering space — Strata helps you plan with real cost data from actual builds.