Challenge

The project needed to balance multiple, distinct uses within a compact footprint: a high-performance garage and workshop below, and a comfortable one-bedroom dwelling above. The design had to accommodate specialized automotive equipment, hobby space, and secure storage, while ensuring privacy, daylight, and energy performance for the residential unit—without overwhelming the scale of the existing single-family home.

Solution

The ground level is organized as a purpose-built garage and workshop, featuring a car lift, generous clearances for restoration work, dedicated zones for woodworking and other hobbies, and a full charging station with secure storage for e-bikes. Above, a one-bedroom DADU is tucked beneath a simple shed roof, with clerestory windows along the north wall bringing in abundant daylight while maintaining privacy from the main house. Photovoltaics on the roof support the unit’s energy goals, reinforcing the project’s efficient, forward-looking approach.

Materials + Craft

The architecture pairs modern restraint with tactile material expression. The upper volume is wrapped in Japanese-style shou sugi ban siding, lending depth, durability, and a refined contrast to the utilitarian garage below. Clean lines, expressive roof geometry, and carefully placed openings give the building a quiet presence within the yard. Materials were selected for longevity, performance, and honesty—resulting in a structure that celebrates hands-on craft, both in how it is built and how it is used.