The Pinto Studio is a 900 sf ADU to enable family gatherings to continue as a couple’s grown children start families of their own. The property in Ashfield, MA, is a retreat where the family vacations, and the original cruxiform house, built in the early 90s, has one master bedroom and two small bedrooms. With the third generation expanding, the property is no longer able to accommodate the entire family comfortably. The detached cabin is a space to which the couple can retreat, allowing their sons' families to take over the main house.

Designed as an ADU, allowed by right under Massachusetts law, the 900 sf cabin is accessed by a zig-zag bridge through the trees to the cabin, which will appear to be floating over the landscape. The cabin is supported on columns surrounded by a delicate lattice screen protecting the covered space below. The bridge maintains an accessible route, especially important on snowy winter nights when the driveway becomes icy. The studio is designed with one bedroom, a full bath, an office/sleeping nook, and a “great” room with living, dining, and kitchenette areas. A loft space over the bedroom/bathroom allows for further sleeping options as the grandchildren grow. This project is currently in progress and has just been submitted for a permit.