The Adaptive Cottage in Habersham, SC
Project Case StudyThe first-ever Southern Living Adaptive Cottage featuring accessible universal design, aging-in-place living, and luxury custom home construction in Habersham, South Carolina — benefiting the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Project Overview
LOCATION
Habersham, SC
HOME TYPE
BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS
3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms
Adaptive Cottage Home Design in Habersham, SC
The Habersham Adaptive Cottage demonstrates how thoughtful home design can support comfort, accessibility, and long-term livability without sacrificing style. Designed for Lowcountry living, this custom home features timeless architecture, functional spaces, and design elements that make everyday living easier for homeowners of all ages.
Aging-in-Place Features for Lowcountry Living
This adaptive cottage incorporates aging-in-place design principles that allow homeowners to remain comfortable and independent as their needs evolve. Wider pathways, accessible living spaces, and flexible floor plans are seamlessly integrated into the home’s design, creating a beautiful and practical custom home in Habersham, South Carolina.
Custom Home Builder in Habersham, South Carolina
Built by Allen Patterson Builders, the Habersham Adaptive Cottage showcases the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and quality construction that define luxury custom homes in the South Carolina Lowcountry. From architectural planning to construction and finishing details, this home reflects a commitment to building homes designed to serve families for generations.
The Adaptive Cottage Campaign
Allen Patterson Builders has built in Habersham since the community’s inception and has completed over 100 homes in the neighborhood. The company is a member of the Habersham Builders Guild and a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Network since 2012.
Habersham is a 300-acre master-planned Lowcountry community in Beaufort, South Carolina, designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ), a founding firm of the New Urbanism movement. The community is built around a walkable town center with shops, restaurants, a firehouse, and a post office, and includes parks, nature trails, community gardens, and a deep-water dock where Habersham Creek meets the Broad River. Habersham has been named “Best Neighborhood in America” by the National Association of Home Builders (2009), Southern Living’s “Community of the Year” (2015), and Ideal-Living’s “Best Neotraditional Community” (2016), and has been recognized multiple times among Where to Retire magazine’s “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities.” The community features four miles of waterfront.
Explore the Habersham Community
Photographed by Laurey Glenn Photography
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Adaptive Cottage, adaptive and universal home design, and Allen Patterson Builders’ work in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
What is the Adaptive Cottage?
The Adaptive Cottage is the first-ever Southern Living Adaptive Cottage — a single-story, 1,966-square-foot Lowcountry home in Habersham, SC, designed to accommodate mobility challenges and aging in place without sacrificing style. Built by Allen Patterson Builders with plans by Moser Design Group and interiors by Kathryn Lott, it was created as part of a national campaign benefiting the Parkinson’s Foundation. The design is available as Southern Living House Plan SL-2075.
What makes a home "adaptive"?
Adaptive (or universal) design anticipates a range of physical needs so a home stays comfortable and safe as life changes. In the Adaptive Cottage, that includes zero-entry showers, slip-resistant flooring in all wet zones, pocket and Dutch doors, horizontal door hardware, motion-activated lighting, USB outlets, reachable nightstand trays, a removable under-sink cabinet for roll-in wheelchair access, and built-in infrastructure for adding handrails and ramps. As builder Allen Patterson puts it, “So much of what we’re calling ‘adaptive’ really just makes sense and improves quality of life for everyone.”
How does the Adaptive Cottage benefit the Parkinson's Foundation?
Net proceeds from the sale of the home, along with a percentage of future sales of the Southern Living House Plan (SL-2075), support the Parkinson’s Foundation, which works to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s and their families.
Can I build the Adaptive Cottage or a custom home in Habersham?
Yes. Allen Patterson Builders has built in Habersham since the community’s inception and can construct the Adaptive Cottage or a fully custom home tailored to your needs.