Offset ADU

November 27, 2024

The design studio Byben transformed an atypical garage into a cosy a secondary housing unit in the Los Angeles's Westside neighborhood - Mar Vista.


The original garage was a 1 car carport used for bike storage and a 1 car garage used for an office. The clients were trying to decide between doing an addition to the house or building an ADU. 




"I convinced them that the ADU was the best route because the size can be defined which helps controlling the budget, whereas doing an addition on a house can get out of hand quickly."




The first garage level is placed on two property lines and was expanded toward the street but with a 4’ set back. It includes one large room with a powder room and a large closet for storage. This room has a front a back door so you can access the yard from the kitchen area for BBQs and you can access the living room area directly from the deck that is then connected to the living room of the house. 



The second level is offset to accommodate the present zoning envelope and the power lines in the rear of the property. This offset provided a roof deck on the second level, more space for some existing trees and bike storage, and a covered front entrance to the ADU. The 2 visible sides of the exterior are covered in Ipe hard wood installed as a rainscreen which provides an amazing look that will continue to change and adds extra air circulation in the wall that prevents problems in the future. 


The curved interior and exterior are a way to soften the feel and look of the ADU that is very close to the house. The U window in the upstairs office/bedroom is pushed above the ceiling line with a mirror on the ceiling above to produce an infinite height feeling that also adds to the connection with the view. 



The Offset ADU has created an amazing space for the clients to entertain relatives, friends and their two children, while also compelling them to use the yard much more than they previously did. The original driveway area that cuts down the side of the property can now become part of the yard due to ADU regulations, so then the back yard is just that, a yard with no need for a car to drive through it. This really transforms the experience of a yard.



Photography   Taiyo Watanabe

Architecture   Byben

Furniture   DEN Los Angeles

SHARE THIS

 Latest Edition

Mar / Apr 2026 edition is available now!

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magzine April 29, 2026
During Milan Design Week, where the city becomes an intricate map of overlapping visions and fleeting installations, Bodo Sperlein delivers a moment of rare coherence and depth with MENU exhibition that transcends the conventional boundaries of design to inhabit architecture as a living, breathing entity.
By G&G _ Magazine April 15, 2026
From March 31 to April 3, 2026, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Hotel & Shop Plus 2026 Shanghai unfolded as far more than a trade fair: it emerged as a living, breathing platform where the very notion of travel dissolves, permeating every layer of contemporary lifestyle and spatial design.
By G&G _ Magazine April 10, 2026
Held in two phases, from March 18–21 and March 28–31 at the Canton Fair Complex, the 57th edition of CIFF demonstrated how design is no longer something merely displayed but something to be fully experienced through the senses: deconstructed, re-engineered and ultimately redefined in its deepest essence: matter .
By G&G _ Magazine April 6, 2026
Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is pleased to announce it will be returning to London’s EC1 on the 19 – 21 May 2026. Marking the 15th anniversary of this global design festival, a new curated series of largescale installations will be launched called Design Interventions .
By G&G _ Magazine February 19, 2026
At a time when design is redefining its priorities, the contemporary landscape of interiors, décor, and outdoor living is clearly shifting from a digital-centric vision toward a more human, emotional and nature-driven approach. This transition was strongly evident during the latest editions of Warsaw Garden Expo and Warsaw Gift & Deco Show , held at Ptak Warsaw Expo from 10th to 12th February 2026.
By G&G _ Magazine February 3, 2026
Merav Bustan, founder of the Berlin-based design studio bearing her name, is the creative force behind the interior design of the new boutique hotel, VIA Antwerp , located in the vibrant heart of the Zurenborg district.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By Zhanna Lysohorova May 14, 2026
A soft, luxurious atmosphere permeates every corner of the hotel, which embodies the spirit of the island through curated décor, thoughtful design, and immersive experiences. Mar Suites Formentera is a refined retreat where guests feel deeply connected to the surrounding landscape and to a slower way of living.
By G&G _ Magazine September 11, 2025
At M&O September 2025 edition, countless brands and design talents unveiled extraordinary innovations. Yet, among the many remarkable presences, some stood out in a truly distinctive way. G&G _ Magazine is proud to present a curated selection of 21 Outstanding Professionals who are redefining the meaning of Craftsmanship in their own unique manner, blending tradition with contemporary visions and eco-conscious approaches.
By G&G _ Magazine January 30, 2025
Rockwell Group, the acclaimed architecture and design studio based in NYC, has unveiled the interiors of Nobu Bangkok , marking a new milestone in the studio's decades-long collaboration with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.