James Nathan Schroder
16.08.2024 - 17:54 / sunset.com / Sarah Yang
As ADUs (accessory dwelling units) become more and more popular, their designs become more sophisticated. Take for example, this Santa Monica ADU and garage with its angled façades and laser-cut aluminum screens that create a lantern-like effect at night.
The homeowners (a family of four with two teenage boys) wanted to add two new structures—the ADU and garage—to their property which already included a two-story home. “The design objective was to create additional space for the immediate family and a future home for extended family members with communal space between structures,” explains Lisa Little, principal and founder of Vertebrae. “The existing contemporary home, with an open floor plan and a yard-facing expanse of floor-to-ceiling glass created a design challenge—the new structures would be highly visible from many parts of the home.”
Art Gray
For the design concept, the team (which included contractor Mike Ward of AB Concepts) focused on creating the structures as sculptural elements in the garden, especially since they’d be very visible from the main house. The design team also focused on creating privacy between the structures, filtering daylight, and creating the lantern-like effect.
Art Gray
“The angled façades of the garage and ADU form a strong diagonal line in relation to the main house to produce a trapezoidal yard, complete with pool, deck, and outdoor kitchen,” Lisa explains. “The main house and ADU face each other, equally sharing the exterior space. When open, the screens of the ADU extend the interior living space into the shared yard. When closed, they ensure privacy, filter daylight, and create a lantern-effect in the evening. The roof orientations intentionally differ, one optimized for solar
James Nathan Schroder
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