Backyard Cottage Berkeley, CA The one bedroom, one bath tiny home serves as the primary living quarters for our client while they rent out the main house. This new 500 square-foot cottage was constructed on the northwest corner in the rear portion of the site. The cottage is designed and oriented for passive solar heating. High windows also bring in views of the garden and trees while helping to maintain privacy. Radiant heat in the exposed slab on grade is heated by a high efficiency water heater.