An Underutilized Garage in the Bay Area Is Transformed Into a Net-Zero ADU
A San Leandro resident looking to downsize converts his garage into a luminous ADU for an adaptable and sustainable future.
A San Leandro resident looking to downsize converts his garage into a luminous ADU for an adaptable and sustainable future.
For architect Irving Gonzales, a client project blossomed from an unlikely connection—with, of all people, his insurance agent. "Through the course of our relationship, we’ve spoken about art, architecture, fruit jams, and more," Gonzales says of insurance agent-turned-client Steven Glaser. "He noted one day that his garage was really not of much use and that an ADU would make more sense," he recalls. "The garage conversion here in the Bay Area was a great path to take."
Residing in the 2,100-square-foot main home, Steven was looking to eventually downsize, as well as carve out space for a home office. Collaborative design discussions revealed interest in the "shed aesthetic" style of Sea Ranch, with Steven wishing to create a simple, warm, and sustainable environment of his own.
In San Francisco’s sunny East Bay, the ADU is surrounded by a mature garden with avocado trees and berries. The new shed roof is framed with structurally laminated beams, which allows an open 20-foot span at the interior.
Photo by Eric Rorer
Gonzales—principal at San Francisco-based Gonzales Architects—was eager to propose a design concept that would be a departure from the garage’s current form, suggesting a shed roof in place of the existing gable. "With the major length of the lot running north-south, we oriented the shed roof to slope south from its maximum allowable height of 16 feet," says Gonzales. "This allowed us to add the photovoltaic panels to cover the entire roof, including the five-foot overhang on the west side that shelters the unit from the late-day sun."
Birch veneer plywood and a sealed concrete floor provide a simple and cohesive material palette for the ADU. An innovative HVAC system—the LG Art Cool Gallery—allows original artwork to be placed at the front of the wall-mounted unit.
Photo by Eric Rorer
Windows were placed at both higher and lower elevations for natural cross-ventilation, and translucently glazed interior pocket doors were integrated to allow light to penetrate deeply into the space.
Photo by Eric Rorer
See the full story on Dwell.com: An Underutilized Garage in the Bay Area Is Transformed Into a Net-Zero ADU
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