Agnes Photos
Inspiration for a contemporary shade front yard formal garden in Chicago for summer.

Design rendering for a detached accessory dwelling unit in Contra Costa County, California, by Taragano Design & Build. The roof is a single slope pitched toward the neighboring property line, which keeps the tall wall facing the owner's yard. That orientation determines everything else. Full height glass and the transom band go on the high side where the ceiling is tallest and the view is the client's own garden, not a fence. Windows are placed to avoid the neighbor entirely on the low side. On a small lot, privacy in both directions is a design constraint before it is a courtesy, and it is easier to solve with window placement than with landscape screening that takes years to fill in. The soffit is stained wood rather than painted. It is the one warm material on an otherwise plain building, and it sits where it is seen from below on approach. Planting was kept drought tolerant with permeable paths, which suits both the water constraints most of our clients work within and the lot coverage limits that apply once a second structure is added. Licensed general contractor, CSLB #1143420. Diamond Certified.