Our History

We like efficiency and good design. In fact, we’re kind of obsessed with it. We specialize in the design and construction of efficient, thoughtful, well-built cottage homes and communities, and have streamlined the design and construction in such a manner to make the cottage as affordable as possible.

Much of the influence on Affordable City and Compact Cottages comes from our founder Barry Bialik’s time spent living on a houseboat in downtown Seattle and on the islands just across the bay from Seattle. The little houseboat was only 10’x30′, but it was designed so well and so efficiently and afforded so much outdoor space, two people were able to live on board with a highly talkative parrot rather comfortably. The houseboat was also one of the most affordable housing options in the Seattle area.

The next move was to a 900 square foot artist-designed, contemporary cottage a ferry ride away from downtown Seattle. It was Northwest bliss. Barry was deeply inspired by the small pocket communities of little, adorable cottages that popped up in the urban, rural, ocean front and mountain top areas in the Northwest.

When Barry moved to Asheville, he realized that no one was building the small, stick-built affordable homes that he had fallen in love with, and decided he would do it himself. Thus, the birth of Compact Cottage Company!

Compact Cottages has built more than 50 homes in the Asheville area over the past several years, and Barry is current chair of the Asheville Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. 

Compact Cottages’ sister company is the Thirsty Monk Brewery.