ADU

As the state, and the country as a whole, are figuring out means of mitigating the housing crisis, one project type is beginning to help satiate that need. Accessory Dwelling Units like the Crystal ADU not only add a dwelling unit to a previously developed residential site, but this one does so in a mere 160 square feet. One of the primary design goals was providing the minimal amount of space needed for a person to operate. Joe Seelhammer Joe Seelhammer Reminiscent of a crystal's clean lines and beautiful edges, its fractal roof form and high-placed windows allow for ample natural light while still offering privacy from the adjacent residence. Built-in furniture and storage, along with a murphy bed, allow these components to fol... More

Many people were horrified by the destruction of the wildfires that burned most of Lahaina in 2023. We were approached by homeowners to help them re-build their burned out properties. One of those properties is on the edge of town, on a small street of other singe family homes needed to be rebuilt. With rule changes to the zoning code in Lahaina, we can now offer more ADUs and other smaller dwelling options than before. The design of the new residence at Kaeo Place offers a larger single family residence at the front, and a smaller double ADU unit in the rear. The danger of the amount of new built square footage was that the home would read as overbearing and commercial. Caption To help offset that concern, the front entry is differen... More

Envisioned as a year-round gathering place for a growing and multigenerational family, Thunder Road Reaches is a reinterpretation of the storied family farm compounds of the owners’ native Texas. Nestled along the banks of a meandering tributary of the Snake River, it lies within earshot of the legendary fly-fishing, scenic hiking paths, and world-class skiing and mountain biking offered by Jackson Hole. Krafty Photo Krafty Photo Krafty Photo The compound is conceived as a group of related structures including a main house, guesthouse, and gear barn that facilitate easy gatherings of friends and family and are sited to optimize privacy and views. Krafty Photo Krafty Photo In keeping with the family it hosts,... More

The One-Gable Studio is a creative workspace & guest house located on a corner lot in the historic Windsor Square neighborhood of Los Angeles. For this family of six, the structure is in many ways an extension of the house but also offers a space of separation for quiet work, guests and leisure. Michael Wells Michael Wells The siting for the building and the pool emerged in response to the trees on the property. A cluster of Redwoods (north) and a mature Bradford Pear (west) bracket the back corner of the yard, leaving an area for the new structure. These natural canopies provide shade for the outdoor areas of the pool deck and lawn. Michael Wells Michael Wells The single-gabled roof profile is the structure’... More

Studio Lyon/Szot designed a 750 SF addition to an existing Spanish-style home from the 1970s. We looked at contemporary Portuguese and Spanish details to develop a material response to the addition and expansion. Our biggest challenge was connecting small rooms spread across the home into a fluid experience. A critical part of our brief was creating a flexible wing to accommodate an expanding extended family or a future caregiver. Critical to our consideration was recreating a shared space for the family to cook, live, and entertain in. Caption Working closely with Allen Construction, Studio Lyon/Szot kept most of the existing structure intact. We expanded and grew the kitchen and support areas and developed the interiors, taking cues... More

The Norwood Park Laneway Homes are a set of three laneway houses built as a collaboration between neighbours. The homes are designed to present as a cohesive whole with details that create variation across the three homes.  Ron Adriano Ron Adriano Ron Adriano Home A is approximately 1000sqft while Home B and Home C are each approximately 1,500sqft. The homes feature 2-3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Uniquely situated on a laneway that abuts a public park, each design focuses on maximizing parkside views. The ground floors host bedrooms and bathrooms which are nested around a central corridor with ample storage space. Ron Adriano Ron Adriano To enhance privacy while maintaining daylight, bedrooms facing the laneway... More

The location of the project, sandwiched between the rear yard of a single-story craftsman home and a utilitarian public alley, demanded a certain level of introspection in order to safeguard privacy, take advantage of specific views and maximize comfort. Caption ONNIS LUQUE Caption ONNIS LUQUE To achieve this, the first step was to create a solid box reaching to the limits of the buildable volume. The box essentially is used as an outer container, that envelopes crafted living spaces housed within its perimeter walls.  From there, these outer protective walls either break down, are perforated, or remain solid, depending on specific functional needs inside. ONNIS LUQUE ONNIS LUQUE ONNIS LUQUE ONNIS... More

The Symington Laneway House is a 2-storey infill residence built on a narrow 17' wide lot in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood. At 1,000 sq. ft, the project is now home to the owner who formerly lived in the two-unit house at the front of the property. Ron Adriano Ron Adriano Ron Adriano Due to the home's proximity to both the public laneway and the main house, an unconventional arrangement of spaces was needed to mitigate privacy concerns. The bright yellow entry door opens up to a den off the laneway, while the kitchen and dining spaces are oriented towards the yard and accessed by sliding doors. Upstairs, the living room overlooks the laneway with a more private view towards West Toronto. The bedroom and bathroom are locat... More

In Aspen’s historic West End neighborhood, a classic 1890s Victorian-Era home is carefully restored to its original form after years of non-historic additions and renovations.  The Victorian is stabilized and reinforced, renovated, and linked to a contemporary addition and newly excavated lower-level basement. DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE DRAPER WHITE Inside the Victorian, the original compartmentalized layout is opened to dynamic, multi-story volumes and free-flowing circulation.  Unified by these volumes, a three-story floating wood stair overlooks the lower-level rec room below.  A double-height ki... More

This origami-like alley flat is a surprisingly light home; a unique and amazingly practical place.  Strategically placed windows, dramatic roof angles, and a living room that transforms into an open-air pavilion all contribute to the clever use of every inch of space.  The full build-out of the site provides much-needed maximal density on the lot while remaining respectful of the surrounding neighborhood’s character and responding to the scale, material palette and color palette of the existing house.  Nestled among trees at the back of a lot in Austin’s North Loop neighborhood, the sophisticated choreography of the spaces makes this home feel much bigger than its 850 square feet. More