For $299K, a Santa Monica ADU Is a Refugee’s Chance to Start Again

When Michael Solomon and his late wife, Dr. Naomi Lieberman, decided to add an ADU to their backyard, they had little idea of the journey the space would take them on.

The couple had lived in their 1-bed, 1-bath, 1,300-square-foot home in Santa Monica’s Sunset Park neighborhood since purchasing it in 1994 for $300,000, a jaw-dropping number by today’s standards in an area where the median home sells for $1.9 million, according to Redfin. Over two decades later, they were ready for more space—particularly Michael, who was working out of the couple’s garage. The couple envisioned a small ADU that would function primarily as Michael's office but could also double as a guest suite. From the outset, sustainability, healthy materials, and a midcentury modern aesthetic were top priorities.

After encountering a project by Minarc on a Dwell Home Tour in Venice, California, the couple sought out the local firm, which is run by Icelandic couple Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, for their ADU.

They landed on a custom version of Minarc’s Plús Hús, a 320-square-foot prefabricated energy efficient model. Michael came to the table with a sauna and steam shower from Aquapeutics that didn’t fit into the standard Plús Hús and had to be integrated into the ADU's design. "In a way, everything was built around the sauna," says Tryggvi. The couple also opted for an expanded 400-square-foot build that features additional windows with strategic placement for enhanced cross ventilation and upgraded materials. The sliding floor-to-ceiling glass panels, however, are a standard feature.

The prefabricated ADU utilizes mmmMOD panels, which are a wood-free, fire-resistant material—patented and produced by Minarc—crafted from recycled steel and resilient expanded polystyrene insulation board. There’s no paint or carpeting inside the ADU in order to minimize the presence of volatile organic compounds, which are known to have harmful health effects. There’s also minimal furniture, save for a Murphy bed that pulls down over the sofa, as well as a small table and chairs from Design Within Reach that Michael brought over from the home.