Moongate ADU by Cover Architecture offers intergenerational living near LA

A large circular opening offers a glimpse through the white wall in front of this California accessory dwelling unit, designed by architect Yan M Wang of Cover Architecture for his mother.

The LA-based architect created the additional unit on his property in Altadena, north of Pasadena, so that his mother and her partner could be closer to the family after retiring.

The 620-square-foot (57 square metre) building was constructed between the main house and the street and is divided in two to make room for a pathway to the back of the lot.

Living spaces are located in the larger section on the right, while storage is housed in a narrow volume to the left – both rendered entirely in white.

The minimalist form was intentionally designed to "challenge" the 1961 ranch-style, single-storey house where Wang and his young family reside.

"This deliberate contrast in building styles and eras is an interplay between the ordinary and the extraordinary," said the architect.

The ADU's living volume is partially obscured by a wall that slopes up from the path and includes a round portal that punctures through at the taller end.

This feature gives the project its name, Moongate, after the circular gateways found in traditional Chinese architecture.

"Its expressive sloped partition wall with a large circular opening, at once, conceals and reveals what's beyond the parapet," said Wang.

The wall creates a shaded, decked patio area in front of the dwelling, providing an outdoor seating area with privacy from the street.

Curved elements in the roof eaves and an arched entry into the storage space help the two volumes to read as one.

Inside, the modest structure includes a kitchen and living area, a bedroom, a bathroom and a small office.

"Cheerful geometries extend from the exterior to the interior of the ADU, alongside a light, natural material palette," the architect said.

Baltic birch plywood millwork with round cabinet handles used throughout is complemented by light grey Pietra Artica marble used for the kitchen counter and onyx marble atop the bathroom vanity.

Skylights in the kitchen and bathroom bring additional natural light into these spaces, and a back patio opens to a courtyard area shared with the main house.

"The three structures, in dialogue with one another, help foster a sense of connection to the outdoors while bridging three generations, providing ample room to commune together and also retreat into private spaces," Wang said.

ADUs have grown in popularity across states like California and Texas, where revised zoning laws allow for higher density in urban and suburban neighbourhoods.

Others in California include a mountainside dwelling in Marin County with wooden interiors and a loft space, and a Bay Area live-work unit that consists of two gabled volumes connected by a glazed bridge.

The photography is by Leonid Furmansky.

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