Jack Bian - Flaxton

FLAXTON

Huntington Beach, California

The Jackson Avenue project tested out all the multiple possibilities that can be done with a typical 5,000 square feet lot.

The Jackson Avenue project was an interesting one. The goal was to build an accessory dwelling unit, a term that has become synonymous with affordable housing in California. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a unit that measures between 400 and 1,200 square feet of living space. It gained popularity over the last decade because of certain homeowners who were looking for ways to generate rental income along with a demand for more affordable housing. Many of these ADUs take the form of a detached unit in the backyard of an existing house. This was the case for the Jackson Avenue project.

The Jackson Avenue project tested out the multiple possibilities that can be done with a typical 5,000 square foot lot. Many homeowners struggle with what to do to create the best value for their property. The client I was working with wanted something of architectural significance, but at the same time, he wanted to sure that developing and building this property would be cost effective.

It started off as an entirely new build - demolishing the existing two-unit house built in the 1940s. The first proposal was to create two separate units with an ADU in the center. But design potentials were constrained by city regulations which required a 10 foot wide driveway to access the garage. At my next meeting with the client, we decided to eliminate the need for a driveway by consolidating the parking in front of the main house. We also studied the option of a full renovation of the existing house and the construction of a new ADU.

In the midst of our planning, Culver City changed its regulations and zoning laws for ADUs. This was welcome news because it allowed greater freedom to expand. This completely changed the project because it allowed bigger units to be build and the faster approval process. With the new allowable areas of 1,200 square feet, an ADU can now be considered as a modest dwelling unit. We then came up with another idea - the project became solely focused on developing a two bedroom, two bathroom living unit of 1,200 square feet.

In my opinion, good architecture is not limited by the zoning conditions, monetary value, or the real estate market. I don't agree with the concept that quality depends on how much you pay. Each design is a commitment and the result is only limited by the architect’s imagination. Throughout the process of Jackson, I appreciated working out design ideas with the client as if he were going to live there.

Huntington Beach, California

The Jackson Avenue project tested out all the multiple possibilities that can be done with a typical 5,000 square feet lot.

The Jackson Avenue project was an interesting one. The goal was to build an accessory dwelling unit, a term that has become synonymous with affordable housing in California. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a unit that measures between 400 and 1,200 square feet of living space. It gained popularity over the last decade because of certain homeowners who were looking for ways to generate rental income along with a demand for more affordable housing. Many of these ADUs take the form of a detached unit in the backyard of an existing house. This was the case for the Jackson Avenue project.

The Jackson Avenue project tested out the multiple possibilities that can be done with a typical 5,000 square foot lot. Many homeowners struggle with what to do to create the best value for their property. The client I was working with wanted something of architectural significance, but at the same time, he wanted to sure that developing and building this property would be cost effective.

It started off as an entirely new build - demolishing the existing two-unit house built in the 1940s. The first proposal was to create two separate units with an ADU in the center. But design potentials were constrained by city regulations which required a 10 foot wide driveway to access the garage. At my next meeting with the client, we decided to eliminate the need for a driveway by consolidating the parking in front of the main house. We also studied the option of a full renovation of the existing house and the construction of a new ADU.

In the midst of our planning, Culver City changed its regulations and zoning laws for ADUs. This was welcome news because it allowed greater freedom to expand. This completely changed the project because it allowed bigger units to be build and the faster approval process. With the new allowable areas of 1,200 square feet, an ADU can now be considered as a modest dwelling unit. We then came up with another idea - the project became solely focused on developing a two bedroom, two bathroom living unit of 1,200 square feet.

In my opinion, good architecture is not limited by the zoning conditions, monetary value, or the real estate market. I don't agree with the concept that quality depends on how much you pay. Each design is a commitment and the result is only limited by the architect’s imagination. Throughout the process of Jackson, I appreciated working out design ideas with the client as if he were going to live there.

Culver City, California

This project is a full remodel, second story expansion and a garage-to-accessory dwelling unit conversion. Measuring at 1,500 square feet, the goal was to build a second story addition while keeping the existing foundations and walls as much as possible.

When I design a home, I first think about the people who are going to live there. I always begin by getting to know the values of the family, who they are, their concerns and their vision. In this way, the people inspire the design.

The Flaxton Street project came about as a result of a relationship developed during the Jackson Avenue renovation. One day, I received a phone call from the client. He said he had "good news and bad news," and asked which one I wanted to hear first. I said, "the bad news." After two years of planning for the Jackson Avenue project, the client had decided to put it on hold indefinitely. The "good news," though, was that he wanted me to design a completely new project -- a house for his son and his family.

This is something I welcomed. As an architect, I am firmly committed to working with the client over the course of the entire project. I am flexible in my thinking and very willing to work with clients who have new ideas even if they come in the middle of the design.

The Flaxton Avenue site is located in Culver City, California. The existing house is mid-century modern with a detached garage in the backyard. The young couple, with their newborn child, was hoping to move back to Culver City permanently and wanted a remodel that was spacious for their family.

Their dream was to create a contemporary design with a second floor addition. They had a budget that needed to be met and if not, they would resort to option "B," which was strictly an interior renovation.

I was intrigued by the challenge. Understanding their goals and constraints, my mind was quickly made up about the initial concept: an entirely reorganized interior with minimal exterior foundation and soil work, with a new second floor addition.

This second story addition was designed to take advantage of the existing foundation and exterior walls of the house and build up from it. This approach is economical and takes advantage of a house that is already well situated on its site. There were a few minimal, but necessary, exterior wall expansions and elevation adjustments on the first floor to help with the visual and physical circulation and increase the indoor-outdoor relationship.

California light is warm and magical and the surfaces of a building reflect the color of the day going by or the clouds passing over. So as I design a project, I always like to move the building blocks around so as to arrange them in a meaningful way to reflect the changing qualities of sunlight.

For the staircase corner, this particular building block was broken down into smaller pieces. Each component was proportioned so that the dimensions were scaled appropriately for a reading niche or memorabilia displays. The staircase space is 20 feet high with shades to control sunlight intensity, creating a welcoming foyer.

To further emphasize the indoor-outdoor relationship on the second floor, a large deck is created and directly accessed from the master bedroom with large panels of glass multi-slide doors. An exterior staircase leads to the rooftop deck with additional space to entertain and for equipment such as solar panels.

When I think about a building, it is not just about shapes or styles, but the existing conditions and the people who inspire it. These two things are linked together.