Byben Completes Sculptural Offset ADU in Los Angeles

In this project spotlight, Byben completes Offset ADU, an 890-square-foot, two-storey accessory dwelling unit tucked behind a family home in Los Angeles’ Mar Vista.

The design reuses the existing garage foundation and two walls to control costs while delivering essential living space for a couple with two young children.

The massing is intentionally carved with setbacks and a cantilevered upper level.

This turns site constraints into features that support an indoor–outdoor rhythm and an intimate connection to the surrounding trees.

Overview of Offset ADU

Offset ADU is a compact, two-storey addition that sits behind the primary residence.

It expands the family’s living footprint without a full new build.

The project repurposes the garage’s foundation and two walls, streamlining construction and reducing expenses.

This approach also preserves the material language of the original structure.

The program includes an open ground-floor zone for living, dining, and cooking.

Private spaces can be adapted for work or guests.

The exterior uses carved nooks and a cantilever to create a sheltered ground-floor entry and a terrace above.

Architectural massing and structural strategy

The massing appears as a rectangular volume carved to form setbacks, openings, and a cantilevered upper layer.

By retaining the garage’s foundation and two walls, the design anchors the new ADU to existing conditions and enables efficient assembly.

A portion of the upper floor was removed to accommodate rear power lines, creating a roof terrace that preserves mature trees.

This terrace provides space for covered bike storage and a secondary entry.

Material palette and detailing

The exterior language is simple and refined, using natural, durable materials and careful detailing:

• Two façades visible from the main house are clad in a rich ipe wood rainscreen for warmth and depth while screening solar gain.
• The other elevations are finished in stucco with ipe accents to tie the volumes together and emphasize material continuity.
• Several siding edges are curved to soften the massing and reduce apparent heaviness, creating a more approachable profile.

Interior program and spatial experience

On the ground floor, an open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge area forms the heart of daily life.

This level also includes a small bathroom and a laundry zone.

Direct access to an outdoor deck extends the living space outdoors, encouraging indoor–outdoor living.

A skylit, slender stairwell finished with white oak slats and bright yellow paint creates a unique transition between levels.

The upper space serves as an office/bedroom and features a tall U-shaped window that projects into a mirrored cove.

This generates an “infinite-height” visual effect and brings daylight deeper into the plan.

Outdoor spaces and landscape strategy

Landscape interventions rebuild the yard as a frequent, usable part of the property.

Removing most of the driveway and inserting a gate between the front and rear yards unifies the property and encourages movement between zones.

The roof terrace and rear green space preserve mature trees and provide shade and outdoor shelter.

The underside of the cantilever shelters bike storage and a secondary entry, supporting the home’s daily use.

Why Offset ADU matters for LA and sustainable design

For practitioners and homeowners in dense urban settings, Offset ADU shows how reusing existing structures can lower costs. It also helps expand usable living space.

The project emphasizes indoor–outdoor living and daylight. Spaces are flexible and can adapt to a family’s changing needs.

The landscape strategy reduces driveway area and creates a usable backyard. It also establishes a clear flow between the front and rear yards.

This approach prioritizes both functionality and environmental awareness on a small site.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Byben completes Los Angeles house with sculptural Offset ADU