Located in a highly walkable neighborhood, the College Hill Cottages demonstrate a phased build-out of a sustainable cottage cluster on a typical residential lot. Through three phases of construction, the cottages offer six compact, zero-energy homeownership units for sale at a price that is well-below most other homes in the neighborhood—a workforce-affordable homeownership opportunity well-suited for those seeking a sustainable, small footprint lifestyle.

The cottages are arrayed around an elegantly landscaped south-facing courtyard and patio, designed for casual social connectivity, be it through outdoor dining in the shade of the lacy Japanese maple, or tending your garden bed alongside your neighbor. 

Each zero energy, one-bedroom cottage is designed to maximize livability with 800 square feet of living space, while sitting lightly on the land. Entry porches are framed with richly stained cedar and inside awaits a well-designed, functional living/dining/kitchen space with exposed timbers. The second level hosts a well-lit bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and sizable closet, a bathroom with a washer/dryer and storage closet, and an office nook with a view. Above is a full height loft space offering flexible use as a home office, yoga studio, additional bedroom, or whatever else one can imagine. Around back is a sizable shed offering secure bike and gear storage.

The homes are deeply energy-efficient and of low-carbon construction, including well-insulated, airtight 2X8 walls and an I-joist roof, operable cedar shutters for solar control, and heat pump space and water heating. The metal roof is solar-ready for any site orientation. The homes are targeting “Zero Energy Ready” certification through the US Department of Energy.

The zero energy cottage design is also available as a pre-approved ADU in Eugene/Springfield, and can also be implemented as part of a duplex, triplex, or fourplex design.