The Rodgers ADU, located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, is a low-cost, sustainable example of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), which is a relatively new typology in California. An ADU is a legal second dwelling, complete with its own separate address, on a lot zoned for only one house. In 2017, a new state law went into effect in response to a statewide housing shortage which encourages homeowners to build these. In Los Angeles, the construction of new affordable housing units has been outpaced by population growth. Affordable ADUs offer some relief to this ongoing housing crisis.
At the back of the site, a freestanding studio-type dwelling has been added to the top of an existing garage. The structure orients away from the main house and its yard, maintaining mutual privacy. The roof of the ADU slopes down from west to east, directing the rainwater to a rain tank in the back for reuse. Clad in economical fiber-cement siding, the ADU reaches down to the ground, while the stucco cladding of the garage reaches up, forming a semi-enclosed entry sequence.
Inside, there is an efficient studio layout. The ceiling, which is punctuated by a centrally placed skylight, follows the roof slope and gently slopes up to the west. Windows facing the south and west bring in an abundance of natural light. The windows, together with the operable skylight, act as a solar chimney to passively cool the space.
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