LA breezy in-law unit is multi-level "cabin in the woods"
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- When Bo Sundius’ father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, given the 6-to-8-thousand-dollar-per-month cost of 24-hour care, Sundius and his architect wife Hisako Ichiki began designing a home for his parents in their yard.
On their triangular lot in LA’s Solano Canyon, there was space for a second home, and since CA code now makes Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) legal, the couple invested in building a small home next door. For one year, the couple helped care for Sundius’ father at night while they and their children formed a tighter bond with their grandparents.
Taking cues from the neighborhood and their own home, Sundius and Hisako designed a home that looks like a “Monopoly piece” on the outside, but inside they were prompted by the openness and geometry of Japanese architecture and the post-WWII Case Study Houses.
Since their budget was very limited, they used structural elements as interior design. They opened up spaces between the balloon-framing so the structural beams serve as visible frames for long clerestory windows. The space has no walls, but is instead divided by functional items like a bathroom/closet cube and open-tread Douglas Fir stairs.
“The ceiling was a bit of an invention on our part,” explains Sundius. Inspired by Brunelleschi’s
“None of our clients have big budgets and we simply had no budget when we built this so we had to make the most of what we had and what you have is you have a roof. Traditionally you take the roof joists and they go from edge to ridge, but we decided what would happen if we flipped it.”
The result is their now-signature “new sky” Douglas-Fir-clad stepped ceiling that creates a feeling of space inside the 750-square-foot cottage: an effect inspired by the Renaissance architect Brunelleschi. “He said something to the effect of, ‘once you start a line the line goes on forever’ and so when you see a line go you automatically want to take it to its one-point perspectival point, or two-point. So here your eye automatically goes to the furthest point of the house and I think that psychologically it makes you feel like the space is bigger.”
Today, the backyard home is a rental unit, and Sundius and Ichiki are offering 4 sets of pre-approved plans - their cottage included - that they hope can help others follow their example. All of their plans follow their “5 Rules for ADUs”: 1) Welcome residents home with an entry pathway 2) Expand the boundary with a side yard 3) Borrow the view with high windows 4) Open exterior walls to release space 5) Create a new sky with high ceilings.
Bunch Design: bunchadu.com/
On *faircompanies: faircompanies....
I really like what he is doing. Also, an architect with such humility in LA. I could listen to him talk about architecture all day.
true, he expresses himself in a nice articulated and sophisticated fashion without being one bit snobish
@@guachingman His voice and the way he speaks threw me... like a west coast Woody Allen. One of those times when a guy introduces his wife and it takes you back. "Your partner is female... I wasn't expecting that". Not being from the US whenever I hear a nebbishy sounding guy it sounds almost camp to my ear.
@@jamesjross IOW, he sounds gay. And I agree, he does.
@@bevcrusher4177 OH ME OH MY - I hope I didn't suggest that! Well I have to apologise to the nebbishy Woody Allen community for such a thing. I genuinely thought they just married their daughters.
I found him hard to listen to. He does that thing that young girls do when they talk.
I love how they have created such a thoughtful design in an affordable home. Beautiful doesn't have to mean expensive!
Beleive me. This may not be as expensive relative to some of the other lots and houses in their area, but it's definitely nowhere near as affordable as they're making it sound. The land and home prices in this area are off the charts.
@@lactate8008s the lot price may be what it is in LA but the house is definitely low budget considering they build it themselves, incorporating salvage parts and some hired labor. The labor might be the only thing pricey in this construction
The ceilings are so beautiful, such a sense of space.
I particularly like this episode. The architect really knows what he's doing and his explanations of defining the spaces in the house made perfect sense (for once). This little house was very well thought out. Good work!!
Some owners do a good job of explaining what they did and why, some others not so much, these owners were excellent!!! Congrats to them!
They are architects, I’m imagine they are well versed in defining and describing their designs.
LOVE IT !!!
It tick's all my boxes.
Simple, beautiful, affordable and practical.
I love the vaulted ceiling with its unique approach to "stepping" the beams. It carries your eye throughout the entire length of the open room concept. Beautifully designed architecture with lots of lighting from the clerestory windows that is both artistic and homey. Thanks for sharing. Jenny
I can't click fast enough for all of your videos. Thanks for the consistent inspiring content.
Thank you for the comment. I am also inspired by the creators.
@@kirstendirksen 😍Love your videos! Stunning ADU.
❤Adore an architect who gets the value of Clerestory Windows in HDL where privacy is a factor. (Prefer ones you can open for extra ventilation too. Also don't have to stress over Nightstalkers🕵️♂️bringing a ladder to enter through one.)
Picture windows are lovely, but not worth it if you must keep covered 24/7 bcos of close neighbors or to protect from sweltering🌡hot☀️sun. Even worse, if you lose heating or cooling through them. Energy rates too high in Cali to waste power.
In future, plz consider doing more 360° views inside each room. Sometimes feel like I am missing some vital perspectives. Always interesting to hear about systems too. Thank you!
☮Peace 💛Love 🌼Beauty
from SF Valley area.
That's awesome. I wish more states would allow a second small home on an existing home lot. It would solve so many problems for so many people.
@Steve Slade This ADU is hardly jammed on the lot. Could be quite content in such a space. Could even be happy in a former garage space instead of a condo or apt, esp. considering all the vintage buildings that have not yet been retrofitted for earthquakes.
Besides, in LA we have many smaller homes sitting on double lots we can't afford to water bcos of high utility rates. Nobody wants to have a rocky front or back yard, so we might as well double up on structures.
Housing is so costly here that ppl are beginning to double up in SFRs anyway. Cramming extra ppl into single structures to be able to afford rents & mortgage of any type home will still impact road traffic.
Plus, our corrupt politicians have been reducing traffic lanes on already congested streets to add bike lanes that few ppl actually use. Biking is killer here bcos the greater LA area is pretty large-' and our temps are usually too hot🌡. Our officials do little to combat bike theft bcos it's not a priority crime. They are also starting to charge for HOV lanes too.
This would be great but not all lots can accommodate a second home.
Those ceilings are tremendous! I love the recurring theme in this house, and on the channel of creative solutions emerging as a response to challenges. The dx of his dad's dementia lead to the ADU. The tree lead to the siting of the home. The budget constraints lead to creative (and beautiful) finishing choices, reuse options, etc. Great lessons to keep living by!
HLR4th I agree. The harmony of all the elements coming together is striking and very, very beautiful. They are my dream designers!!
@@politicalpartyagnostic268 Yep. Down to the drawer display nooks from her grand-parent's home in Japan. Wonderful details.
First off, I love Kirsten's videos. She finds some of the coolest homes. This home, I think, is absolutely inspired. I think this is a wonderful way to offer affordable housing to so many people all over the country. It helps, too, that the design is just gorgeous. I want to move in right now!
I like the "we had no money"
Yes, my idea of shoestring budget and his idea are in two different worlds
@@davidstoughton3340 You have to consider that it took them years to scrape together everything you see, and that much of what you see is just carefully recycled old stuff. If you ask around and gather other people's garbage and don't mind putting in the effort to make it look good and be functional again, you can get a lot of stuff for almost free.
it costs 500-600k for those types of designer house. no money is relative. prob cost them half as much.
@@AnhH88 I doesn't cost at all that much if you do many things yourself. It costs that much if you don't even do the design yourself, and pay a construction company to do everything, from architectural plan to construction and interior finishing.
If you're an architect yourself, you can get away with just paying the builders to build the walls and the roof, and put in windows and doors, electricity, water and sewage pipes. Furniture and painting you can do yourself.
@@a0flj0 “walls, roof, windows, doors, electricity, plumbing,” so basically the whole house?
I'd be happy to have that ADU and yard as my primary home. Very comfortable and a visual treat.
The way light is envisioned in the design and build makes them tops in my book as i love space and light and dislike walls. The brain cracking they do in conceptualizing is very evident in their output. Hats off. 🤠
Interesting architecture and single family home in LA. LAs regulatory environment is disgustingly tyrannical and rarely permits creativity like this. Bravo on the integration of windows; light, and nature. The best part of this is that they took care of their parents right nearby.
Love the ceilings, well done.
the amount of culture there's in this is amazing. They also look an amazing family. Love them!
Definitely stealing some of these ideas for the imaginary house that I'll never build for myself. Nice to dream tho
The14roscoe It is!!! I do the same thing. ✨💝👍🏼💯
Mohamed Asad , YES!!! 💝🤗✨👍🏼💯🌞
Best comment ever 👌
Go into the National Guard and get you a 20k sign on bonus. Then work a year in a steel mill. Get a loan from the bank and build. Then payoff in months. Debt free✋🏻
I mean the best for you, so don't take it as a criticism, Perhaps, stop saying never, that will ensure it never happens. Learn about borrowing money, it has never been cheaper, start a business. It takes goal setting and will power....make it happen. the tools you need to learn are here on youtube. As my father said make sure your dreams are big enough.
I love your home you built. I do wish you had shown the rooms in more detail, closets, cabinets, kitchen etc. The size is perfect.
Such a great idea to take care of your parents like this. You’re an amazing son. 💝🙏💝
My sisters n I take care of my Mom who’s living with dementia. My sister owns a 2 family house n our Mom lives on the first floor. Thankfully I’m a block away n can walk there in under 4mins. We share the time n our Mother will stay with us. I feel blessed that we’re able to do this. I know many others that don’t have a choice in these matters.
You did a beautiful job on this home. I absolutely love the design.
I love this house especially the ceiling but everything is just amazing one of the best I've seen!!!!!
So much to like here. Love the reason for their building of the second home. Also, not only love the light and airy aesthetic of the home, but the fact that it's a smaller scale home. I've been watching your videos for some time now and really enjoy them, but I was curious if it was a conscious decision to not ask homeowners what the costs are associated with their build.
Yes, I wondered about that too. She also didn't inquire about systems, including solar requirements for new builds in Cali.
No doubt you could get more information from the architect, since his website is listed below the video.
Absolutely love this one Kirsten, Bo's narrative, the mid build shots, arh, so much audible and visual information in just 14 + minutes. Thanks Kirsten, great job..
Finally a designer I like - that think about creating separation/barrier for the kitchen in small spaces. I never understood the obsession of US designers that remove the wall to the kitchen in small spaces to make it "open space". By attempt to make the space feel larger, they essentially make cooking experience a nightmare by allowing any cooking smell to permeate into the entire unit and possibly even make your bedding smell like food. Wall or separation to the kitchen is a must, especially in small spaces.
I like the way the two structures mirror each other a lot. It is also cool the way they used materials to create the in-law to keep costs lower. I know Bo mentions that converted garages are not something he particularly likes. I do like them. An older converted garage can be enchanting when converted. Especially the early 20th century ones that have redwood timber and stay true to the original architectural feel. Thank you Kirsten for sharing this.
the stepped ceiling remindis me of a Mayan or Aztec temple.
pretty neat.
I absolutely love it - cozy yet modern, small yet spacious. Big enough for two. Beautiful project.
Fantastic ADU. They did a great job for a modest budget. It looks very expensinve.
They are wonderful designers! They make me want to live in one of their spaces, wherever they are no matter..
Great design, modest materials. A winning combination.
@Steve Slade The DF is cladding, not solid. Also, if you look carefully, it's possible to see that the stairs are LVL or some kind of engineered wood product. Agree though that the carpentry on the ceiling is not easy but it adds a lot to the space. Nice mid century vibe and Japanese go well together.
Btw, 👏on this description! Super thorough, informative, and educational on not just the the aesthetics but architectural influences. Love this channel for its depth in each video about history of the home, the property, the spaces, etc.
super cool slat kitchen barrier/display/stairs and the drawer cubbie shelves are so sweet. this is a really respectful way to add to the property.
this is my favorite channel!
*Brilliant designs!!!* Love the ceilings.
To utilise on existing land without taking away from the green space and resolving so many other issues..Doing on a shoestring becomes the challenge that gives so much more when complete..
Far more than expected internally..
I absolutely love that ceiling! This house is so cool. I wish we could have seen the bathroom though.
Now that is the way to make a smaller home- beautiful, functional, and cost savings. Well done and good on them.
I love how she was able to bring the drawers that belonged to her grandparents and incorporate them into a house for his dad and have it look so sleek and fitting.
Thank you #KirstineDirksen this was an absolute Gem. Love the architecture and soul behind the creation!! That walnut tree is beautiful and so are all the highrise windows and the absolutely stunning roof / ceiling!!! Looked like a ship !!! Beautiful sense of aesthetics!!!🌳🏡🌳
Great home. I'm glad Cali has done that. I know that a lot of people were doing it anyway. Years ago there used to lots with 2 houses on them, but then they got snooty and made the requirement of the R1 lot creating low density. Funny, though that the state, county, city can take the property and make whatever they want. Where we lived had a house in front and back... little craftsman cottages... were torn down to build a freeway on ramp. Really lowered to ambiance of the neighborhood. Progress... I guess.
Wow, I love this home.♥️ The stairs, the windows and the roof. The kitchen is a good size.
You are blessed to be able to care for your parents.
I love that I saw you taking the shoes off that is a great gesture of respect. Thank you for doing that. Keep up the good work. Love your videos.
amazing. I'm researching tiny homes trying to get some good ideas. This house has given me a few. beautiful work
Wow I love the set up of this property. The main house and the ADU, the landscaping, driveway and fence/gate. It all just looks warm and homey, pretty, and comfortable.
What a wonderful house - where form is in harmony with function. Thank you, Kirsten.
I loved how they used the beams in this home! What a great idea, and it's beautiful! I also like the way the ceilings are not flat but have height and are enjoyable to look at. The natural wood makes it even more appealing. :)
these two are brilliant! wow. they took a life challenge and turned it into something beautiful. house is not only beautiful but so are their hearts.
So glad to see the whole state embracing ADUs.
This couple were blessed with a beautiful landscape.
The ADU is very beautifully realized.
I really like the stair stepped ceiling.
Thanks for the tour.
I find the other tiny homes interesting to watch but I don't think I could ever live in one of those. This is completely different, it's so well thought out and they obviously have put consideration into making it feel like like a long-term livable and homely house. I love the ceiling and small square windows, it's all very beautiful and you can definitely tell that they're architects and know what they're doing
Wow…Exceptional use of light and vaulted ceilings ,windows, and walls that meet in unique situations. Great job!
I'm surprised they didn't think more about accessibility issues when building a home for his aging parents.
Precisely.
On the one hand yes, on the other hand "use it or loose it" is a thing, so maybe they didn't see 4 or so steps to get to the kitchen as a problem.
I was thinking the same thing especially dealing with Alzheimer’s.
We did. We were gonna have some steps no matter what because of the topography. And we thought that as long as the bathroom and bedroom were on same level that’s what mattered most.
@@bosundius so cool you answered, a lot of people wouldn't follow up like that.
What a brilliant couple - they did an exceptional job with this home. Very interested in more of his work and his ideas.
I love this. The creativity, the spacious feel....in such a small space. Very nice looking.
We really liked the desgn features of this tiny house as well as their other projects. Specifically, not having wals go all the way to the ceiling; it is a feature we inteded to use in our tiny home in Missouri.
Excellent video!
The stair shelf idea is interesting. Very nice proportions for this space, and the stepped ceiling is nice. The split level design wouldn't work for older adults with functional limitations. Curious to know about the costs and red-tape of getting an ADU built.
Any age difficulties with STEPS.
Incredible designs! I love the Japanese style influence. The precious wooden boxes from her parents home in Japan were a wonderful touch! When my Grandmother in Austria passed away the home my grandfather built was sold. I was only able to bring a few things back home with me. I brought some copper pots, black wrought iron wine dispenser and some linens. The linens I use and I enjoy the memories. I also have her kitchen apron 🙂 I love this video and these designers Japanese influence. Very Beautiful!
A lovely work of art! 💕 I love the knowledge dropped by these architects on this tour. What a treat to have an elevated conversation about a space, and what it means
I absolutely love this small home. So much better than Tiny Homes with such a narrow living space. This house is really livable for a longer period of time.
Very cool!! Awesome design, all the way!! Love it..
Awesome Architecture!! Great for the Architect !! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That ceiling is gorgeous. And not letting the framing define the windows is lovely.
nice attention to detail
love those steps up to the loft space. bookshelf, seating space, sightlines that open up the space -- all in one
ceiling adds nice texture as opposed to the usual flat plane
and he needs to clean his gutters and then put on a gutter shield
Your ADU is beautiful! I was impressed with the usage of the drawers as well as the ceiling throughout the dwelling.
I was very surprised to see so many stairs in a home built for a father with Alzheimer's. I would have thought they would have built it ADA compatible so the father could remain there as long as possible as his condition deteriorated; not just for 1 year- (unless he passed quickly). The ceiling is very unique.
Beautiful, expansive use of space!
Nice sharing
Have a nice day
Ohhh wow!!!! Es simplemente espectacular. Son los mejores diseños de tiny house que he visto . Gracias 👌👌
Estoy diseñando la mía y tomaré en consideración algunas de estas ideas MARAVILLOSAS.
A really beautiful design and lay out. Love the color on the exterior of the home.
Love their designs! Great video Kirsten!
I like this house a lot! Very creative. The ceiling is beautiful.
Another brilliant person doing brilliant things. Love this.
Love this little house and this couple's style!
Wonderful creation and use of space.
Your have both done a great job, the house looks great on video and your ideas come across really well. Great to see how well the garden turned out too.
Wonderful. Congrats on great architectural design and construction. Really good. And a nice video.
Great use of creativity and functionality working seamlessly. Beautiful
That’s fantastic!!!
Well done
Stunning and ceilings to die for!
I love their ideas and concepts around light openings and not wanting to feel confined in a space
wow, very creative couple! Love their ideas!
That ceiling is the best feature, the different split up living areas is the 2nd best feature, and the simplistic materials used is the 3rd best feature. Also, it’s very pleasing to the eye. It’s a YUGE win.
YUGE? What do you mean?
Lovely home ! I particularly like the way the architects have maximised the use of daylight and raised ceilings to create an illusion of space.
Absolutely amazing!I am speechless!!
Thank you for sharing this marvelous job!
Beautiful house, and love the reasoning behind the design
This design is one of my favourites. They did their home work brilliant!
they did such a great job. love the clear story windows and ceiling. i absolutely can’t stand when architects add in big windows looking directly onto a street or the neighbors house, then inevitably the owners have the blinds down the whole time. so pointless
Wonderful design! I agree with what the designers said about creating open yet separate spaces. I live in a space with an open kitchen layout. I say "when the kitchen is messy the whole house is messy!"
Hi, I'm having a hard time to picture the rooms, u guys are arriving in each room and just showing small fragments of each place. Once you arrive some where you need to put a master general shot of each place. Of course, if you don't have proper lens this is going to be hard. But even a cheap go pro can do the job, or any kind of fish eye. I'm a big fan, keep it up.
amuri show us what you mean by an example of some of your house tours.
@@johnbergholm lol, nice try
@@spiritflower6640 interesting, maybe we're talking about the same thing. I just don't have a full understanding of the whole room, each one of them. Video production happens to be my profession. I just feel that they didn't realized tha we are not there and therefore we need to be shown how's the rooms like. Like, how does it look like in general, every shot is just a small frame, I need At least one master shot before getting into the details. (sorry, strugling with the language here).
By the way, I'm a fan, is just a tip.
Amauri Silva so you get the point then. you don’t make videos so you don’t have any credentials to tell this woman, who has been doing this a long time, how she should be doing it. since you are fond of suggestions, let me give you one: sit down. close your mouth. and enjoy the free content.
Hi @@johnbergholm , how are you? I'm also a big fan of this woman who puts out content for free for us to enjoy. I was trying to give a friendly advice, sorry if it didn't read that way. I work with video production since I was 18 years old (I'm 36 now) and also have a bachelor degree in Television. Kirsten seems to be such a lovely person that I'm sure she wouldn't mind reading a polite opinion of a fan. I also get advice daily even after almost 20 years on the field and I'm very gratefull about it. Wish you the best. Take care.
I love that it looks unobtrusive, even mundane, from the outside (kind to your neighbors) but totally unconventional and design-y indoors. The low budget hacks and sentimental quirks are really inspiring. Kirsten come tour my weird apartment in Portland!
Cool work you made i love it it's so nice build and how need more space then this👍❤
I love the steps, and the ceiling, floor construction and simplicity is like being in a barn, a really, pretty, barn.
The roof amazing ... I’d love to lay on the floor in the living room and just stare at it ... Shrooms ... or no shrooms. I think it would be a trip.
Awesome buildings,
Thanks for ur uploads!
Stay safe and healthy 😍😍
Wow! We need more homes like this great ideas.
This is ..hands down..amongst the top 3 designs that i haven been privileged to witness, in this channel.
The approach and the actual plan drawing is brilliant, and the result is as simple as it is beautiful.
i’ve got some concerns when it comes to energy use , but considering it is LA...i reckon it won’t have that much of a Carbon footprint.
Thank you Kirsten, yet again,
And congrats to the architect/owners.
i’m thinking of actually contacting them.
cheers from Portugal
This is my dream, to have a comfy, cozy guesthouse with central courtyards connecting the homes 🥰
Really beautiful design. Everything feels considered and polished.
The drawers in the wall is cute and full circle considering the generations that are now living in the home
A custom house like this one in my area is well above my means but what I glean from this vid is great ideas for a house remodel that I can afford. Gran travajo Kristen! You're still light years ahead of the pack.
The house is so beautiful.. I particularly love the roof structure.... I’m amazed you got something that creative permitted...did you have to do the engineering behind the roof structure? I like the kitchen ceiling/floor... i can see how that might save money... but you did so many things differently in this house... I can’t believe the city approved all of them... I also can’t believe you were able to build this house on a shoestring budget.. it does not look like that.. wow.. love your other designs too..
very beautiful house. very stylish and beautiful in the garden. I wish your a happy life. Greetings from Türkiye..