Continuity | Flexibility | Accessibility

Backhouse Design+Carpentry works to get the basics right. Our mission is to perform a service, to improve methods, to fill a gap in the housing market for well-designed, right-sized, comfortable dwellings. We seek to build practical, ethical, and authentic forms of construction that contribute to revitalization within existing neighborhoods through hidden density. We strongly believe in this form of housing.

What is this housing? An alternative. One that is looking beyond the current over-represented traditional single-family housing structure and aims to adapt to the changing needs of the City’s housing demographics. The City is always changing. Embrace the change. Stay Inside the Loop. Stay Put. Stay Small.

We are advocating for local zoning policy changes in Great Falls, Montana which will allow homeowners the opportunity to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for adjustable living situations including long-term rental, by-right. Overcoming code obstacles, establishing design guidelines, and creating a predictable pathway to development will be early priorities. We will build community awareness through education and address uncertainty of ADU development. In doing so abandoning old notions about who lives in the BackHouse and challenging the stereotypes & stigmas of how they live.

A program that creates a diversity of housing options within existing neighborhoods in turn makes it a more interesting place to live. Like-mindedness will be of necessity to achieve these goals. Should this philosophy of creating beautiful small structures sound appealing we would enjoy hearing from you.