Accessory Dwelling
Renovation
An old garage becomes a healthy new dwelling
2018 Sustainable Building & Design project
When the City of Peterborough allowed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on downtown lots to increase density, the owner of this empty, 100 year old concrete block garage envisioned a new living space that was warm, efficient and healthy. Endeavour brought our sustainable building goals to this 700 square foot project, including zero carbon footprint, zero toxins and zero waste. The result is a hidden gem, tucked off the street and the bike path, with an open plan and beautiful natural finishes.
Retain existing concrete block walls and roof joists
Super-insulated, air-tight enclosure with new triple pane windows
Expanded glass bead foundation insulation with hempcrete and cellulose wall and roof insulation
Earthen floors and natural, non-toxic finishes throughout
Mini-split heat pump and ducted energy recovery ventilation system
View this project from start to finish!
Flip through our project e-book and visit our blog for posts related to this project
Explore our other projects
Performing Arts Centre
2008 Sustainable Building & Design project- The municipality of Centre Hastings had an old baseball diamond in a corner of a downtown park that was quickly becoming a revitalized community hub featuring a skate park, playground and splash pad. The community wanted to add a performing arts space featuring indoor and outdoor stages to provide a cultural…
R.D. Lawrence Place
2007 Sustainable Building & Design project- In the middle of the municipal complex in Minden, Ontario sits Nature’s Place, a museum focused on the natural heritage of the area.
The museum display area is built around a replica of an old log cabin, and incorporates trees, natural finishes and even animal footprints…
Kinark Sustainable Living Centre
2006 Sustainable Building & Design project – For Kinark’s Sustainable Living Centre, we set out to create a beautiful, functional and comfortable space using materials and methods that have the least possible effect on the environment during construction. Nearly all the materials were harvested on site or locally, using…


