MOUNTAIN DRIVE ADU

Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Project Type: Residential
Size: 800 SF
Year: 2012
Service: Architecture & Interiors

“Positioned under a canopy of live oak trees, a small guesthouse makes a strong statement with simple massing and extensive operable glass walls along a natural flowing creek; distorting the barrier between interior and exterior spaces.”

When new owners purchased a 1988 residence in Montecito, California, originally designed by our firm, they sought to add a stand-alone guesthouse to the site. To maintain the classic modern vernacular of the main home while introducing unique elements, we minimized the environmental impact by utilizing a portion of the existing motor court, flanked by environmentally sensitive creeks. The design is simple yet strong, with solid north and west elevations facing the driveway and motor court, and glass south and east elevations overlooking a creek. The 800-square-foot guesthouse includes a covered exterior dining space connected to an indoor living area by a sliding glass wall, with a kitchenette and storage wall separating the living space from the bedroom, complemented by a private bathroom and laundry room. Skylights and clerestory windows along the north elevation bring natural light down from the 11-foot ceilings, and an ethanol-burning fireplace provides comforting warmth. Completed in 2012, the guesthouse sustained damage in the Montecito mud and debris flow but has since been repaired and structurally reinforced.