The Modern Japandi ADU

Responding to the client who walked into the our design studio and asked for a black box, we created a dark stained wood ADU, with a back patio carved out and clad in warm natural wood.

This client challenged us to develop a design that was simple, modern, and dark. To respond to this request we cladded the simple form in darkly stained cedar siding, with natural cedar where the volume is carved out at the back patio. The goal was to keep the ADU compact and efficient while making it feel larger by developing a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. We created a simple box form, and then carved out a covered patio and protected front entryway. The interior is bright and open with large windows and doors providing lots natural light from all directions and allowing the space to be opened to the outdoors. The client wanted a place to gracefully age-in-place, so we developed a single level design with minimal barriers within the ADU.

The goal was to design for multi-generational living, with the aging mother living in the ADU and her daughter occupying the main house. They were both intimately involved in the design process as the daughter was planning ahead, and had the goal of moving into the ADU herself when her mother passes.