Local studio Byben has created an accessory dwelling unit in southern California called Offset ADU, which features ipe-wood cladding and curved elements that "soften the feel and look" of the building.
The project is located in the rear yard of a family home in Los Angeles' Mar Vista neighbourhood. It was designed for a couple with two young kids who sought more living space, as well as a space for entertaining guests.
Byben has created an ipe-wood-clad ADU in Los Angeles
The accessory dwelling unit (ADU) replaces a one-car garage that had been doing double duty as a home office and a place for storing a car and bikes.
The clients debated between replacing the garage with a standalone ADU or an extension to their house.
It was built on the foundation of a former garage in the client's backyard
"I convinced them that the ADU was the best route because the size can be defined, which helps controlling the budget, whereas doing an addition on a house can get out of hand quickly," Byben founder Ben Warwas told Dezeen.
To make way for the ADU, the garage was partly razed, with the foundation and two walls kept in place.
Setbacks and openings orient the space to expanded backyard, adding a social dimension to the house
Utilising these existing elements, Byben created a two-storey, 890-square-foot (83-square-metre) dwelling with design elements that cleverly respond to site constraints.
In plan, the building is roughly rectangular, with large portions carved away to form setbacks and openings. The upper level cantilevers over a recessed entryway at ground level.
A large portion of the upper level was cut away due to power lines, and in its place, the architect created a terrace.
The curves of the exterior are mirrored inside
"The second level is offset to accommodate the present zoning envelope and the power lines in the rear of the property," said the studio.
"This offset provided a roof deck on the second level, more space for some existing trees and bike storage, and a covered front entrance to the ADU."
A slender stairwell was painted yellow and features a skylight
The two facades visible from the home are wrapped in an ipe-wood rainscreen, which was selected for performance and aesthetic reasons. The remaining two facades have stucco cladding with ipe accents.
Certain edges of the wood siding are curved rather than straight – a technique to help "soften the feel and look of the ADU", said Warwas. Curved elements are also found inside.
An oblong window in the office space is a stand-out feature
Within the dwelling, a large room on the ground level holds a kitchen, dining space and lounge area, as well as a small bathroom and laundry room.
The ground space opens onto a deck, providing an opportunity for indoor-outdoor living.
A rooftop deck was placed in a cutaway that accounted for power lines
Upstairs, one finds an office that doubles as a bedroom.
A notable feature in the upper area is a tall, U-shaped window that extends into a cove above the ceiling line. A mirror in the cove provides "an infinite-height feeling".
The two levels are connected by a slender, skylit stairwell that is painted bright yellow and lined with white oak slats.
Warwas said he wanted the experience of going up and down the stairs to feel like a "surreal transition".
"Stairs are such a unique opportunity to have a new feeling as you travel through space," Warwas said.
"That is also why the skylight is in there – the natural light with the yellow work together."
Finishes inside are warm and colourful
The interior decor was overseen by Emily and Jason Potter, who are the founders of DEN, a showroom in Los Angeles that specialises in vintage 20th-century furniture.
The project also involved landscape interventions. A driveway leading to the old garage was mostly removed, and a gate was installed between the front and rear yards.
Decking connects the entrance to the main house
"This really transforms the experience of a yard," said the architect, noting that the clients use the backyard more frequently now.
"There are still some changes to the house that are in the works, but for now, the ADU has brought completeness to their property that they did not have before."
