California can’t seem to get enough of the accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The number of permits submitted and approved in the Golden State for the secondary residence has jumped from just under 9,000 a year in 2018 to nearly 30,000 in 2022 when more homeowners recognized it as a key tool to address a dire housing shortage, for a secondary income, or just a means to maximize space. And while design was often an afterthought for the granny flats of yore, architecture firms are increasingly taking on such projects, and deftly navigating their tight footprints with clever sleights of hand. The Crest ADU in Marin County, designed by San Francisco– and Oslo-based firm Mork-Ulnes Architects, is a thoughtful exemplar of this larger trend.
The one-and-a-half story project is located on a hillside, atop the foundation slab of a demolished garage built in the 1950s. The ADU serves as a temporary home for the client, a family of three, while the main house undergoes renovation. The limitations of the platform—it measures just over 300 square feet, with a sleeping loft above adding 100 more square feet—impelled the architects to take what they term a “Swiss Army knife” approach to the project, packing in as much overlapping program as possible.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.