06/02/2026
This Riverside ADU started with a crumbling adobe garage in a historic district — a structure that was literally splitting apart at the seams and could no longer be saved.
Rather than simply replace what was there, the homeowners saw an opportunity to create something more meaningful: a private, light-filled guest house for visiting family and friends.
The design needed to balance a lot within 845 square feet: two bedrooms, one bathroom, storage, natural light, vaulted ceilings, and the realities of building on a deep historic property.
To solve for both openness and function, we vaulted the living and kitchen area and added large dormers to fill the space with natural light. Over the bedrooms and bathroom, we tucked in attic storage so the home could feel spacious without sacrificing practicality.
The site also came with major constraints. The 160-foot deep lot brought fire access concerns, triggering sprinkler requirements and upgraded water lines, and a decades-old Chinese elm tree had to be preserved.
Instead of designing around the problem, we designed with it — creating an ADU that spans the property while carefully wrapping around the tree.
The result is a custom guest house that turns a failing structure into a lasting asset: functional, personal, site-specific, and full of light.
