*Professional Photos By:* *Chuan Photography*

A new detached accessory dwelling built on the footprint of an existing garage. A simply volume maximizes volume while minimizes cost. VELOCIPEDE designed this with the understanding that it would be a rental unit, however, the owners loved it so much they decided to move in themselves.

The thermal shell is comprised of Structural Insulated Panels (SIP’s) which help to minimize thermal bridging compared to traditional stud-framed dwellings; and as the SIPs are manufactured off-site, the entire shell can be erected in a manner of days.

A Brief Comment on Lighting:

Often people approach home lighting by trying to make it as uniform as possible - evenly spaced recessed fixtures, with a few pendants at the island and dining table, and then call it good. While this method of lighting is functional - and seems logical in a drawing – it also can be soulless, uncomfortable, & cold.

In this DADU living room there is a single larger fixture, with simple recessed fixtures around the perimeter that wash the wall surface in a few select locations. The center fixture anchors the room, and serves as the primary source of light, while not having too much glare. The recessed lights provide dynamic shadows and accents. Further, the bedroom features a single ceiling light, with the wall light in the background. If not for the wall light, the ceiling would be too dark, and if not for the ceiling light, the wall light would be insufficient. More importantly, the uneven play between the two makes the space feel more comfortable & cozy.

A couple basic principles: (a) recessed lights should only be used to light surfaces and focal points, never just space; and b) a single switch should control lighting, such that dark shadows and too much asymmetry are minimized.

For this budget project the light fixtures were all inexpensive and basic. In a future post I hope to share another larger project where we used higher-end, high-intensity, narrow-beam recessed lights to reduce glare while providing enough light for high-contrast tasks. At Velocipede, we believe that lighting doesn't need to be expensive or complicated to be comfortable, but should receive a commensurate level of thought, care, and consideration as any other aspect of home design.

Construction Photos:

3rd Ave DADU

john@velocipede.net