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Garage apartment

Housing unit built on or in a storage space vehicles

Housing unit built on or in a storage space vehicles

A garage apartment{{cite book

In the U.S., garage apartments are frequently found in older urban areas, either in secondary buildings designed for such purposes (sometimes called 'guest' or 'carriage' houses), or converted into residential units from their original use. ADUs may be regulated by size, occupancy, lot size, core features (such as kitchens or bathrooms), other building codes and parking allotment.

The idea of integrating garage apartments into urban planning is a key aspect of new urbanism, although many jurisdictions in the U.S. prohibit new construction of or occupancy of ADUs except for relatives.

Origins

The word "garage", introduced into the English language in 1902, comes from the French word garer, meaning "shelter". By 1908, architect Charles Harrison Townsend commented in The Builder that "for the designation of a house for an automobile we chiefly use the French word 'garage,' and also, in my opinion, the more desirable English equivalent 'motor house'.

In the past, garages were separate buildings from the house ("detached garage"). Sometimes a garage was built with an apartment above it that could be rented out. As automobiles became more popular, the concept of attaching a garage directly to a home became a common practice. Garage apartments are becoming increasingly popular because of their versatility and functionality. While a person with a detached garage has to walk outside in all kinds of weather, a person with an attached garage has a much shorter commute inside the building.

Garage insulation

In northern climates, the temperature inside an uninsulated attached residential garage can drop to freezing in the winter. Temperatures inside an uninsulated attached garage in temperate climates can reach uncomfortable levels during the summer months. Extreme temperatures can be a source of energy loss and discomfort to adjacent residences due to heat transfer between the garage and these rooms. Homes with an attached garage often struggle with this "interface" problem. Insulating the exterior of a building from the elements without extending the insulation to the wall separating the garage from the house, and/or other garage walls and the roof, can be a costly mistake.

References

References

  1. "Origin and history of garage". www.etymonline.com.
  2. "Horniman History: Charles Harrison Townsend". www.horniman.ac.uk.
  3. "Motor Houses: The Early History of Garages". www.autodoorsandgates.co.uk.
  4. "Townsend, Charles Harrison 1851 - 1928". architecture.arthistoryresearch.net.
  5. "The History of Garages". didyouknowhomes.com.
  6. "Guide to Garage Apartment Plans". archivaldesigns.com.
  7. "How to Heat an Uninsulated Garage". backyardlord.com.
  8. "How Cold Will an Unheated House Get?". temperaturemaster.com.
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