Extra unit

A nice level yard is the perfect spot for this clean-lined modern box. The clever open corner provides a streamlined porch complete with fireplace, while the interior serves as a space for working out and yoga.

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This is what I have in mind for the connection between the bedroom and the current shed! Designed to be a carport during an iteration of the project when a covered parking spot was required, the space can now be enjoyed by the homeowners and guests as a garden seating area. “We realized that a covered outdoor space is a tremendous site asset. It’s really hot in Highland Park,

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The renovated unit is one open space, except for the newly plumbed bathroom, which is an enclosed room past the kitchen and living area. The bathroom includes a shower, toilet and sink. A kitchenette hugs the unit’s front corner, and a closet system on the right conceals a foldaway bed. An open living area, including a couch and TV, sits at the other end of the ADU (behind the viewpoint of this photo). The team kept the garage’s original exposed roof structure and decked ceiling, preserving the space’s rustic quality. The horizontal structural elements across the ceiling are new, added after an engineering assessment, but the structure otherwise remains intact. New insulation in the walls and ceiling and a mini split for heating and cooling keep the space comfortable and in compliance with California energy codes. New skylights bring in more natural light. On especially sunny days, a screen can be pulled down to reduce brightness.

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We made sure that the doors and windows were oriented away from the house,” René-Weissman says. Zones within the garden also help to create a feeling of privacy and separation between the home and the ADU, even though the structures are only 10 feet apart.

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The flooring is concrete. The team added a moisture barrier to the existing concrete slab to keep the space dry, and then finished it with a thin coat of concrete and a semimatte topcoat. Built-in storage made of prefinished plywood panels lines the far wall. “The wood wall lends a lot of warmth to the interior,” René-Weissman says of the mostly white space. The wall unit has closets, storage nooks and a foldaway bed, all of which can be hidden from view when not in use.

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By incorporating the closet, the architect added valuable storage and pulled the usable living space farther away from the property line, as required by the city. As mentioned, the bed can be folded into the wall during the day, clearing the floor for other uses.

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