Albany Garden ADU

This backyard ADU was designed for a homeowner who wanted a complete, self-contained space on her property — one that could serve as a guest retreat, a quiet workspace, or a home for family without feeling like an afterthought. The exterior is clad in shou sugi ban cedar, its charred texture grounding the structure in the garden rather than standing apart from it. A standing seam metal roof and steel window frames complete the exterior, considered and precise. A kitchen window opens onto a steel ledge facing the garden, creating an easy connection between inside and out for casual gatherings. Inside, the single bedroom plan is organized around two cold-rolled steel sliding doors that allow the space to function as one open room or separate into distinct areas as needed. Layers of white throughout, tile, cabinetry, walls, and trim, keep the interior calm and spacious. Vaulted ceilings add unexpected volume for a structure of this scale. Small in footprint but considered in every detail, it's a space that works as hard as the home it belongs to, and feels just as carefully made. Project Manager | Jos Reynaud