An Underutilized Garage in the Bay Area Is Transformed Into a Net-Zero ADU

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. 

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."