When we arrived at the client’s home for the first meeting, he had already marked a chalk square in his front yard where he pictured his new Accessory Dwelling Unit would be built. Now all we had to do was to design it. Since it was placed prominently in front of the primary residence, it was important that the ADU fit contextually with the original structure.  We drew from the architectural language of the existing home,  but we also tried to give the new dwelling its own distinct  personality.

Despite a limited budget, the owner was thoroughly committed to creating the best design possible and building with the best materials he could afford. He chose to construct the project himself so that he could put more money into his investment. Kudos to this school teacher turned builder whose hard work clearly paid off.

Project Role: Architect
Completed: 2022
Project Size: 498 s.f.
Owner/Builder: Rodger Milbourne
Landscape Architect: WALA/ Wes Arola Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: Stork Wolfe & Associates
Photo Credits: Lisa Maksoudian