When it became more difficult for Burien resident Dana Wheelock to care for his aging mother in her own home, he turned to microarchitecture.

Inspired by the town homes of Seattle and the current construction slowdown, Wheelock decided to have a cottage built for his mother at the front of his Burien property.

According to Bruce Parker of Microhouse, the opportunity to "age in place" is among several reasons that property owners build backyard cottages.

Completed in September of 2009, Wheelock's cottage is the first that Microhouse has constructed. The company began a year ago, but Parker said that he had been intrigued by the idea for some time, and growing interest in small dwellings allowed him to harness his "passion for cottage design."

Beyond caring for parents, Wheelock said that some families hope backyard cottages will allow them to leverage their backyards for rental income, accommodate growing families or simply live in efficient, environmentally sound homes.

Although detached cottages are not legal in all parts of Seattle, Burien allows property owners whose lots are 1.5 times the size required by city codes to construct accessory dwellings.

Wheelock "lucked out" in terms of lot size. He had an 800-square foot home constructed, the maximum size allowed by law, with a garage workshop where he can build electric cars.

"It was really no problem at all," he said of the permitting process. "I was totally pleased."

Parker believes that the red tape surrounding cottage construction in the Puget Sound will eventually be largely eliminated as residents begin to realize the benefits of backyard homes. He predicts that wages will not rise for some time, and "most people realize that," leading them to look for smaller, reasonably priced homes.

"I think people... don't see [houses] the same way anymore," he said. Additionally, structures built on already-developed land increase urban density and generate tax income, making them appealing for many cities.

Smaller homes also tend to have smaller carbon footprints, making them appealing for property owners interested in ecological responsibility. Microhouse can build homes that are "as sustainable as [clients] want," Parker said.

He often collaborates with his wife, a landscape architect, in planting rain gardens around homes, which help filter toxins from runoff. Relationships with green materials providers have begun to pay off.

"It's really neat," he said, "you get a lot of upfront savings that really help you pay for solar" energy systems.

Microhouse design features can also help alleviate the occasional sense of claustrophobia that can come with small dwellings. Wheelock's cottage features high ceilings.

"It does feel a lot bigger than 800 square feet," he admitted.

If Parker's predictions pan out, more Puget Sound area residents will be making similar statements soon.