This Bay Area Company Is Offering Svelte Backyard Prefabs That Start at $139K

Founded in 2021 in San Francisco, prefab builder Spacial Homes wants to do more than simply provide shelters. "Our purpose is to cultivate wellness," says Cory Halbardier, the company’s executive officer. Zooming in on his vision, property owners can make an extra buck by installing one of the company’s accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in their backyard as a rental unit, which would alleviate the Bay Area’s housing shortage.

The company partnered with Brooklyn-based design studio Caza to create two models: a 400-square-foot studio that starts at $139,000, and a 500-square foot one-bedroom unit at $157,000. Homeowners can use them how they see fit, whether that’s as a guesthouse, rental property, or expanded living space for friends and family.

The units come in a range of colors and include ample storage, tall ceilings, and spacious bathrooms, to name a few of the features. "Most people who step into a Spacial ADU are amazed at how spacious it feels inside, even with a small footprint," says Halbardier.

Adding to the sense of spaciousness are eight-foot-tall sliding glass doors in the bedroom and living room, along with large windows on the back of the units. "This lets in a ton of light and creates an amazing cross flow of air, connecting residents to the outside," says Halbardier. "When they want respite, they can close it, and the insulation keeps out the elements and noise, so they can turn in and focus."