GreenHouse

The resulting 660 square foot ADU hosts a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and small deck, as well as solar panels and numerous sustainable features. To visually expand the small space, we focused on maximizing the number of windows and sky lights.

As Chris described, designing an ADU is “a game of inches, not feet.” This ADU is no exception. It is packed full of amenities, including in-floor heating, a stacked washer and dryer, and even an elevator for the homeowner’s aging parents. Due to the clients’ desire for a modern aesthetic, these layers of amenities were elegantly hidden to avoid visual clutter. Chris stated, “The challenge was getting all of the electrical and plumbing tucked into the walls. Every single void in the ADU is filled.” The many large windows only added to this challenge by taking up precious wall space.

This is our “greenest” project to date. As the homeowner stated, “In my family, one parent worked in photovoltaics in the early days. My spouse’s work has been with climate change. So why wouldn’t we take a sustainable approach to the ADU? That’s what it comes down to: Why would you build something today that ignored the challenges we already have and the ones we know are coming?” Solar panels, continuous exterior Zip-insulation, and automated rolling shades work to create a sustainable living space. The solar panels provide about half the electricity that the client’s primary home uses, as well as powering the ADU. Because both the sky lights and the solar panels required roof space, we took careful consideration to create a layout which would maximize both.

Collaborators include Über Built, and Bunkers and Associates. Windows by Marvin. Skylights by Velux. Cabinets by Semihandmade. Siding by Firestone. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography. Time Lapse by Ryan Siemers Architectural Filmmaking.