Backyard Homes

Building a better City can start in your own backyard. Through storytelling we break down barriers and humanize the unfamiliar. Let's inspire new ways of thinking by showcasing different ways of living. Cities across North America are facing unprecidented challenges related to climate change, economic resilience, and community health. Backyard homes, known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Laneway Homes, Garden Suites, or Granny Flats are part of a larger movement to address these issues by increasing urban density, decreasing car dependence, and offering diverse housing options to citizens from all walks of life. This movement prioritizes citizen's right to access safe and affordable housing, and is premised on the idea that cities must move beyond single-family only zoning in order to respond to the fiscal, environmental, and social challenges of our time. While backyard homes are not a silver bullet to our affordable housing or sustainability challenges, they are an example of citizens taking part in the rebuilding of their City. The backyard housing movement recognizes that family structures are changing, multigenerational living is becoming more common, and lifestyle preferences are shifting. Backyard homes are helping our cities and neighbourhoods adapt to this new reality. At the same time, backyard homes speak to many people's deep seated desires for familial contact, a sense of community, and a secure future. This book tells the stories of twelve early-adopters of backyard homes in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.