Facts:
Description:
the Architects
Text description by
The Offset ADU is a 933-square-foot back house designed by Los Angeles-based architecture firm Byben, led by Ben Warwas. Completed in 2024, the project is a dramatic conversion of a one-car garage in the Mar Vista neighborhood. Rather than expand the main house for their growing family, the clients opted for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to add a media room and an extra bedroom/office, revitalizing their entire backyard in the process.
The project's most striking feature, its "offset" second story, is a creative solution to site-specific challenges.
The upper level is shifted a few feet from the ground floor to accommodate overhead power lines and adhere to zoning regulations, which was used to the project's advantage. This strategic offset gives the building its unique, dynamic profile while also creating a covered front entrance and a roof deck on the second level. The sculptural form and playful geometry make the interior feel much larger than its 890 square feet, according to architect Ben Warwas.
The exterior features a contrast of materials, with the two facades visible from the property clad in a striking ipe rainscreen siding, while the other sides are finished with smooth stucco. The ADU divides the formerly underutilized backyard into three new, diverse spaces: a deck connecting the ADU to the main house, a rear yard, and a side yard.
The interior features some curved walls, a choice that helps soften the feel of the structure despite its proximity to the main house. The main floor is a flexible, open space for the kitchen, dining, and living areas. The upstairs houses a versatile L-shaped room that functions as both an office and a bedroom, complete with a Murphy bed.
A U-shaped window in the bedroom/office extends above the ceiling line with a mirrored soffit, creating a surreal feeling of infinite height and a continuous connection to the sky.
Project credits
Architects: Byben (led by Ben Warwas)
Interior Designers: Emily and Jason Potter
General Construction: Manchen Construction
Client: Courtney Wilk-Mandel and Danny Mandel
Photographer: Taiyo Watanabe
Location: Los Angeles, California
Project Year: 2024
Team
In This Project:
Presentation / Gallery:
.
Plans & 2Ds:
Materials Used:
More Projects by
Ben Warwas
About
Ben Warwas:
Ben Warwas founded Byben, an architectural practice focusing on custom residential projects and installations. Located in Los Angeles, the firm specializes in unique designs, including hillside homes and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and is known for its inventive and often playful approach to transforming spaces. Warwas has a background in fashion design and has received a master's degree from SCI-Arc.
