SO – IL among architects designing ADUs for LA's standard plan program

los angeles mayor eric garcetti has launched an initiative that offers builders and homeowners a variety of pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) designs that could result in faster and less expensive permitting. an accessory dwelling unit, commonly referred to as an ‘ADU’, is defined as a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. in the midst of LA’s current housing crisis, ADUs have become critical to the city’s ability to expand and diversify the supply of housing. since updates to state law making it easier to build ADUs took effect in 2017, they now comprise 22% of newly-permitted housing units. as part of the initiative, a series of designs by architecture firms such as SO – IL, jennifer bonner, and wHY architecture have been presented.

exterior view of ‘pebble house’, an ADU standard plan design by SO – IL
all images courtesy of los angeles department of building and safety (LADBS)

after a year of development and a seven-month pilot phase, the ADU standard plan program gives homeowners access to 20 pre-approved design options from ten different firms. the ADU standard plans — which build off an existing LADBS standard plan for swimming pools, stairwells, and other design features — are designed to accommodate a range of homeowner needs, from small studios to larger, two-story layouts. another eight designs from four additional firms are pending approval, giving the program a total of ten local firms within the LA region. the program is open to all architects, contractors, and other firms able to meet the program’s basic requirements.

plan view of ‘pebble house’, an ADU standard plan design by SO – IL

by choosing from one of the pre-approved layouts, homeowners can now reduce the LADBS plan check review process from four to six weeks to as little as one day. ‘every day, los angeles and our residents tackle our greatest challenges with creativity, innovation, resilience, and an immeasurable can-do spirit,’ says mayor garcetti. ‘this program is about making ADUs more accessible, more affordable, and more beautiful — and making them part of the blueprint of our efforts to tackle our housing crunch and create more affordable communities citywide.’

exterior view of the ‘lean-to ADU’ by jennifer bonner/MALL

residents will be able to access the pre-approved designs on the ADU standard plan website. the designs will help simplify, expedite, and reduce the cost of the overall permitting process by offering consumer protection from contractor abuses; direct access to architecture firms who have secured approved plans; and flexible designs that will work for most residentially zoned properties.

the roof deck of the ‘lean-to ADU’ by jennifer bonner/MALL

‘the standard plan program will dramatically streamline the process for homeowners of selecting and getting an ADU design approved by LADBS while at the same time supporting the work of los angeles architects and extending the city’s rich tradition of innovation in residential architecture,’ explains christopher hawthorne, chief design officer for the city of los angeles. ‘the ADU plans available at launch include contributions from some of the most talented architecture and design firms at work in los angeles and around the country — and we look forward to seeing new designs added to the mix.’

exterior view of an ADU standard plan design by wHY architecture

in february 2021, councilmembers kevin de león and bob blumenfield led a motion in the city council that builds off the work of the ADU standard plan program to call on the bureau of engineering, LADBS, the los angeles housing and community investment department, and city planning to develop standard plans for modular multi-family homeless and affordable housing, bungalow courts, and ADUs. ‘driving down the cost of building new units helps all communities increase affordable housing stock,’ says councilmember kevin de león. ‘this ADU standard plan program reflects the kind of forward-thinking that LA needs to expand housing affordability throughout the city. I look forward to working with mayor garcetti to apply this concept to a broader range of affordable housing alternatives, especially ones that allow for cost-certain options.’

a two-story ADU design by taalman architecture/IT HOUSE INC.

as part of the project SO – IL has designed ‘pebble house’, a flower-shaped dwelling that is raised on a deck to maximize exposure to light and air. ‘we designed the house so that dwellers can reconfigure their homes to accommodate different patterns of living,’ the architects explain. ‘the house can be assembled onsite with prefabricated materials. the prefabricated façade allows for natural cross-ventilation.’ meanwhile, ‘lean-to ADU’ by jennifer bonner simultaneously reinterprets two los angeles architectural mainstays: the stucco box and the exaggerated false front. see all of the approved plans here, as well as the schemes that are pending approval.

exterior view of an ADU design by LA más