DELANO RESIDENCE

THIS PROJECT WAS PERHAPS THE MOST PERSONAL OF MY CAREER, AS I BECAME BOTH ARCHITECT AND CLIENT. OVER MANY YEARS, I CAREFULLY COLLECTED ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS DESTINED FOR DEMOLITION—CUSTOM CABINETRY, DOORS, WINDOWS, LIGHTING FIXTURES, HARDWARE, AND QUALITY BUILDING MATERIALS FROM PREVIOUS PROJECTS—WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM A SECOND LIFE.

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THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAME THE TRANSFORMATION OF MY OWN PROPERTY. AN UNDERUTILIZED RECREATION ROOM AND GARAGE WERE REIMAGINED INTO AN 800-SQUARE-FOOT ONE-BEDROOM ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU), WHILE THE ORIGINAL RESIDENCE WAS COMPLETELY REMODELED. TOGETHER, THE TWO STRUCTURES CREATE A FLEXIBLE RESORT-LIKE COMPOUND CENTERED AROUND THE POOL, FUNCTIONING EITHER AS A PRIMARY RESIDENCE WITH A PRIVATE GUEST HOUSE OR AS TWO INDEPENDENT HOMES.

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MORE THAN A REMODELING PROJECT, THIS WAS A LABOR OF LOVE AND A TESTAMENT TO THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF ARCHITECTURAL RECYCLING. NEARLY EVERY RECLAIMED ELEMENT FOUND A NEW PURPOSE, DEMONSTRATING THAT SUSTAINABILITY, THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, AND CRAFTSMANSHIP CAN COEXIST BEAUTIFULLY. THE COMPLETED PROPERTY ULTIMATELY SOLD FOR A RECORD PRICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CONFIRMING THAT GREAT DESIGN AND RESPONSIBLE REUSE CAN CREATE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE.