Design, Bitches Accessory Dwelling Unit

We founded Design, Bitches with a bold and irreverent vision to make architecture significant in daily life. Our collaborative & award-winning practice draws inspiration from our love of nature and expertise in the the areas of design, art, and pop culture. We excel at the exploration of intersections- architecture & interior design, spatial & graphic design, the natural & built environments. Each design transforms a collage of influences into an architecture that is beautiful and layered with meaning, but also welcoming — spaces and landscapes where people want to hang out. Current projects include a new headquarters for a production company, a house/studio for a musician & writer, and renovation of a mid-century home in the Hollywood Hills.

Design, Bitches ADU is a new guest house/studio as re-envisioned for the contemporary backyard. The compact footprint contains everything needed for a home and office, opening up the lot to make the most of limited space through a series of indoor & outdoor rooms built to welcome inhabitants of all ages. The floor is slightly raised and surrounded by a boardwalk inspired by the Japanese engawa, a type of veranda which creates a feeling of separation and a psychological threshold through a simple material and level change.

The straightforward design can be customized to meet an individual client or family’s needs with an optional outdoor dining/lounge area patio cover that can be designated a carport if additional parking is required. The bedroom can one left open for a loft feel or enclosed as a separate room, and an exterior door to the bathroom can be added for access to a pool/spa, or use by guests. The space is equipped with an efficient heat pump for heating & cooling as well as a tankless water heater. Recycled tile and LED lighting are included in the design, and the ADU is solar photovoltaic panel ready. Rain barrels are used to store water for landscaping re-use.

The material palette has been kept simple to focus on warmth, natural light and the intimate proportions of the new structure. Marine grade plywood and exposed doug fir structure are minimally detailed to highlight the inhabitants’ personal collections and durable enough to weather family life with young kids or animals. Exteriors have been painted a deep midnight blue to help blend in with the night sky and contrast with the warm glow from within. Views are focused towards the garden, allowing the dwelling be at once a retreat and a gathering space, a place to work and come together with extended family.