Huron Studio

Huron Studio is a pioneering project in Columbus, Ohio, as the city's first garage conversion ADU. Transformed from a detached two-car garage, the modern live/work studio is light-filled with streamlined simplicity, subtle refinement, and a natural and welcoming material palette.

Acting as owner, architect, and builder, the aim was to create something thoughtful with a high level of design rigor, craft, and quality – designed in a way that could be self-executed with a limited budget. The design team manifested nearly everything themselves, salvaging what they could from the existing structure, creatively sourcing materials, and choosing budget-friendly products where possible to stay within modest means.

The compact plan features a full kitchen and bath, and a living area with a Murphy bed, all within the existing 400 square foot footprint. A new steeper roof provides dramatic lift, increasing square footage and providing valuable loft space for working and lounging. The studio functions independently of the main house. It could be rented out, used as a home for aging parents or a live-in nanny, or repurposed depending on future needs.

Limiting the project size to the existing garage footprint provided an interesting adaptive reuse challenge to deal with the square footprint. A triangular window above the open-air space offsets the gable’s symmetry, creating a focal point and providing a dramatic way to bring light into the space.

Large windows, a vaulted ceiling, and strategically placed skylights flood the studio in daylight, which is essential in the long stretches of gloomy weather in central Ohio. Views of neighborhood trees and landscape are framed to make the guest home seem far from its locale in the middle of an urban Columbus neighborhood.

It was important for the space to feel welcome and inviting, a complete departure from the dank, dark garage of its previous life. As a result, the interior material palette is simple and light. New concrete floors, light-colored walls, and warm millwork make the space feel fresh, bright, and comfortable. A custom dark bronze metal spiral stair and guardrail keep the space open and airy.

Huron Studio mixes custom with off-the-shelf solutions to create a look that’s richer than the spend. Handmade custom white oak fronts cover cost-effective Ikea cabinet boxes while backsplashes are high-gloss Ikea closet panels. The shower walls are grout-free laminate marine-grade plywood panels that mimic the concrete floors. The loft flooring is salvaged roof sheathing from the original structure that was milled and stained. Choosing cost-effective solutions and creative applications of materials, when possible, helped offset splurges in areas that mattered most: daylighting, furnishings, and custom built-ins.

On the exterior, contextual appropriateness was important for a neighborhood that was new to the concept of ADUs. The structure needed to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood and the main house ten feet away. White fiber cement board lap siding matches the color and coursing of the main house while trim was eliminated to give the exterior a modern clean aesthetic.

Huron Studio is an adaptive reuse project that embodies the principles of "design-forward, yet affordable" while showcasing an alternative housing solution in Columbus, Ohio. It serves as a trailblazer for adaptive reuse projects that Columbus needs, establishing a successful approach to increasing the housing stock while providing affordable housing options. The project serves as a working prototype of what a well-designed, contextual, and multi-functional accessory dwelling unit could look like in a city that's new to ADUs. It demonstrates that a beautiful, tasteful, and fitting solution is possible, and can benefit property owners, renters, and the community at large.