San Mateo County homeowners often come to the Cottage team looking for the best way to integrate an ADU into their existing backyard. This Hillsborough homeowner had many of the commonly asked questions before she made her decision to move forward:

How can I match the new granny flat to the main home?
How much space do I need for an ADU that can double as a home office for working from home?
How can I choose the right finishes and features while remaining budget-conscious?
All these were questions that the Cottage design and operations teams addressed for this beautiful Accessory Dwelling Unit.

This particular Hillsborough property was separated into two distinct levels: the existing home on the elevated plane, and a garden area that sloped down to the lower lawn level. The homeowner saw an opportunity to build an ADU on that lower lawn level, as shown above.

Placement of the ADU unit was also important for the homeowner, who did not want the new structure to disrupt the existing views and main home design. At the same time, the ADU design needed to be flexible, allowing for multiple use cases: home office during extended work from home periods, independent apartment for rental income, and potentially housing for an au pair down the road.

The Cottage team walked the homeowner through a few different layouts and options that worked well with the space before settling on a design. The final layout emphasized an open concept living and kitchen area to maximize openness while allowing for the "bedroom" to be used as a full guest room or private office depending on the occupant.

In addition, ample storage in the bedroom along with a washer and dryer unit makes this detached ADU completely self-sufficient as a separate living space.

The interior of the ADU emphasized openness and an airy feel wherever possible. Simple yet elegant finishing choices paired nicely with the open floor plan in the living room and kitchen areas.

Look upwards in the unit, and you can't help but notice one key upgrade the homeowner opted for: vaulted ceilings. The loftier-than-normal headroom further served to expand the feel of the existing square footage without taking up a larger exterior footprint.

Given the ADU's use as a rental unit later on, the homeowner opted for simple and classic kitchen fixtures and cabinets to maximize rental income and minimize maintenance and care. Furthermore, the long wall opposite the front window and door entry allowed for the perfect TV placement—a decision that was made early on in the Cottage design development process.

With a skylight allowing natural sunshine into the space, the bathroom was simply designed, with floor to ceiling tile and a curb tile-in shower giving it a touch of luxury. When it comes to fixtures and formwork, no detail is too small for the Cottage team, as the design team was able to make recommendations based on the specific homeowner's use case and budget.

Whether you live in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, or beyond, the Cottage team is here to help you build your custom ADU designed by the ADU experts. Our team is standing by to help you build the ADU of your dreams, whether that's a granny flat or guest house for now or a rental unit to help pay the mortgage for later.

Contact us today using the link below for a Free, No-obligation Consultation & Estimate and to learn more about how you can build your ADU this year!


Hillsborough Home Office and Future ADU Rental Unit

Custom design and a zero-hassle process with vetted professionals. Technology-enabled space planning and finishes.

Detached ADU, Spanish Bungalow, Los Angeles CA

Cottage

Location if this project is Eagle Rock. Size is 440 Sq Ft. Former structure was detached 2-car garage, and the finish package is contemporary. 
Source: https://www.homestead.is/case-studies/standard-garage-conversion

Standard Garage Conversion

Homestead

John and Julie were using their garage as storage. They knew that they wanted their moms closer to home so they decided to build an ADU. In order to prevent falls, Homestead built a roll-in shower with grab bars. Now they can live closer to their moms with the peace of mind that they'll be safe.

Source: https://www.homestead.is/case-studies/age-in-place-unit

Age-In-Place Unit

Palari

The Palari Group has designs to build 15 eco-friendly 3D printed homes on a five-acre parcel of land in Rancho Mirage, an upscale community in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, California.

These homes will each feature mid-century modern architecture and will consist of:

- a three-bed, two-bath primary residence of 1,450 sq.ft.
- a secondary two-bed, one-bath property on the residence

Each home's 10,000-sq-ft lot will have a swimming pool in the backyard, with the option to pay extra for amenities such as cabanas, hot tubs, fire pits and outdoor showers.

Read more: https://mightybuildings.com/projects/rancho-mirage

Rancho Mirage: First 3D Printed Zero Net Energy Community

We are a construction technology company based in Oakland, CA, that is innovating the construction industry by creating beautiful, affordable, and sustainable homes using 3D printing, robotics, and automation.

Our 3D printing technology allows us to produce modular houses and building components for our clients much faster than traditional construction. Our 3D printers use a thermoset composite material we invented called Light Stone Material (LSM), which hardens when exposed to UV light, making it a more robust building material.

Mighty Buildings has a near-zero waste production process, preventing 1,100 - 2,000 kg of CO2 emission per 3D printed home. We are committed to achieving Net-Zero by 2028 - making our company 22 years ahead of the construction industry.

Not only are we certified under California's Factory Built Housing program to build units using 3D printing, but we are also the first company to achieve certification under the UL 3401 standard for evaluating building structures and assemblies. We are backed by several notable International and Silicon Valley tech investors, including Khosla Ventures, Zeno Ventures, and Y Combinator.

1-Story SFH | 2,299 SF: Square Footage: 2,299 SF; 56'x48'-10" // Stories: 1 // Bedrooms: 3 // Bathrooms: 2,5 // Design Features: Design in Rancho Mirage features built-in wood casework, floor to ceiling windows, 9’6" ceilings, premium fixtures and finishes

2-Story SFH | 3,185 SF: Square Footage: 3,185 SF; 45'x53' // Stories: 2 // Bedrooms: 4 // Bathrooms: 4 // Design Features: 1,460 SF. 2nd floor deck, office/den, floor to ceiling windows

2-Story SFH | 3,343 SF: Square Footage: 3,343 SF; 45'x53' // Stories: 2 // Bedrooms: 4 // Bathrooms: 5 // Car garage: 2 // Design Features: 1,463 SF garage, 745 SF 2nd floor decks, office/den

2-Story Townhome + Rear-loaded Garage | 1,906 SF: Square Footage: 1,906 SF; 30'x52' // Stories: 2 // Bedrooms: 3 // Bathrooms: 2,5 // Car garage: 2 // Design Features: Elevated balconies, office

2-Story Townhome + Front-loaded Garage | 1,906 SF: Square Footage: 1,906 SF; 30'x52' // Stories: 2 // Bedrooms: 3 // Bathrooms: 2,5 // Car garage: 2 // Design Features: Elevated balconies

1-Story ADU + Garage | 636 SF : Square Footage: 636 SF. of Living Space, 1,176 SF. gross; 49' x 24' // Stories: 1 // Bedrooms: 2 // Bathrooms: 1 // Car garage: 2 // Design Features: Efficient layout for in-law-, guest- or rental-unit

Mighty Buildings

1-Story SFH | 1,176 SF: Square Footage: 1,176 SF; 49'x24' // Stories: 1 // Bedrooms: 2 // Bathrooms: 2 // Design Features: Initial development in Desert Hot Springs features built-in wood casework, floor to ceiling windows, premium fixtures and finishes

Hines

Link to the full case study: https://bit.ly/3GYg6E1

The Square By Hines Partners With SWAPP to Increase Interior Planning Process Efficiency
AI-based platform to reduce development planning time by 85%

(HOUSTON) – Hines, the international real estate firm, through its flexible workspace platform “The Square” announced today a new collaboration with Tel Aviv-based AI-powered construction planning company, SWAPP, to increase the efficiency of the planning process of Hines’ flexible workspaces.

The collaboration supports the initial design of each Square location by deploying SWAPP’s innovative AI-based platform to automate and significantly reduce the planning time by 85% and optimize flexible spaces utilization. A process that used to take three to four weeks, can now be done in just a couple of days. Improving communication between all stakeholders involved in the process, including the architects and the project owner.

The planning process that merges the high standard of Hines with SWAPP’s AI capabilities, introduces a new level of planning efficiency and flexibility for large enterprises and small businesses alike across The Square commercial spaces.

The announcement is part of the real estate company’s innovation strategy which includes implementing new technologies to enhance operating efficiency.

Using advanced AI algorithms, SWAPP’s system automatically generates office layouts including leasable space optimization, meeting rooms arrangements and amenities area calculations, enabling Hines to quickly evaluate different options for their tenants, and a financially viable benchmark for their in-house design team to complete the design which will significantly reduce delivery times.

The partnership is set to improve the way commercial space planning is performed. Hines is one of the largest privately held real estate investors, managers and developers in the world, with a global team of 4,787 employees and $160.9 billion¹ of assets under management across 27 countries. Through this partnership, Hines will use SWAPP’s AI-based platform to create efficient planning processes for their commercial buildings.

Hines Director Annie Rinker notes: “In the wake of the pandemic, occupiers are considering numerous return-to-workplace strategies including how to redesign their spaces. SWAPP’s platform has been an invaluable tool for Hines as we continue to optimize flexible space design for future Square locations and prepare for substantial growth of The Square portfolio.”

SWAPP Co-Founder and CEO Eitan Tsarfati said: “We welcome Hines’ commitment to use the latest AI technology in the field to create an efficient and cost-effective planning process, one which takes couple of days instead of long weeks and even months. By automating this long and tedious planning process, we are enabling property and asset owners to optimize their assets both by cutting costs and increasing the potential ROI."

About Hines

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 240 cities in 27 countries. Hines oversees a portfolio of assets under management valued at approximately $160.9 billion¹, including $81.7 billion in assets under management for which Hines serves as investment manager, and $79.2 billion representing more than 172.9 million square feet of assets for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired approximately 1,450 properties, totaling over 485 million square feet. The firm has more than 180 developments currently underway around the world. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to ESG, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information. ¹Includes both the global Hines organization as well as RIA AUM as of December 31, 2020.

About SWAPP

SWAPP is an AI-driven construction planning company that has developed a single-platform for real-estate developers and construction companies to control their entire construction planning, from feasibility assessments to detailed construction documents and enter the construction phase within weeks. With the use of their one-stop-shop platform, SWAPP is redefining the pre-construction planning process and introduces smart, efficient, and flexible construction planning. Using their platform, real estate developers and construction companies can control every phase of their project planning process and readily adjust them to their budget and needs. 
For more information, please visit: https://www.swapp.net/



The Square By Hines Partners With SWAPP to Increase Interior Planning Process Efficiency

Swapp is an AI-driven architecture firm that collaborates with real estate developers and planners to apply intelligent, advanced algorithms that deliver detailed building designs and cost estimates faster than ever before possible.

SWAPP generates code-compliant construction documents (CDs) from your Test fit plan.

Detailed CD sheets are generated according to the client's specifications and customized standards - including floor plans, elevations, sections, elevator and staircase layouts, finishes, door and window schedules, and materials details.

SWAPP's AI Produced Construction Documents

SWAPP

Architectural Technology to Simplify and Fasten the Planning Process

Salt Lake City International Airport, Garage and Central Utility Plant

DBM Vircon

San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Redevelopment

Client is Destination Brisbane Consortium, project budget is 3.6 Billion Dollars, and it’s in Brisbane, Australia. The Project covering 10% of the Brisbane CBD.

dRofus proved to be the best tool to consolidate all of the data coming from all of the different sources and provide a single source of truth for exporting COBie outputs. The software was also very flexible when defining COBie export processes.” – Gabor Gulyas, Operations Manager - Digital Engineering, DBM Vircon

Read more: https://www.drofus.com/queens-wharf

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane

dRofus is a unique planning, data management and BIM collaboration tool that provides all stakeholders with extensive workflow support and access to building information throughout the building lifecycle.

Unlike any other planning tool on the market, dRofus was developed directly on behalf of public building owners. Capturing client requirements (EIR), validating design solutions (BIM) against client requirements, management of public standards and equipment planning are core features in the software.

dRofus

Autodesk Revit is a building information modeling (BIM) software used by architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, NEP engineers, designers, and contractors. 

Revit

3D architecture solution that assists designing and architectural firms with data modeling, attribute management, graphics overriding & more.

ArchiCAD

Tekla Structures is a building information modeling software able to model structures that incorporate different kinds of building materials, including steel, concrete, timber and glass. 

Tekla

Quintain

Quintain Ltd. engaged Delve to raise project density while minimizing daylighting and cost impacts, solving for complex project requirements in a 12-acre mixed-use development on the North East Lands site in Wembley Park, London.

Using Delve, Quintain generated, evaluated, and optimized 40,000 variants that increased the number of housing units (i.e. "unit yield") while preserving quality of environment over an existing benchmark design. By the end of the 8-week engagement, Delve produced 24 high-performing variants that exceeded all goals across unit yield, usable built area, daylight access, sun hours on the ground, and daylight impacts on neighbors.

Read more at: https://www.sidewalklabs.com/products/delve/quintain-case-study

Images courtesy: Delve by Sidewalk Lab

Wembley Park

Delve is a generative design product that uses machine learning to help real estate teams design better and faster with less risk. Delve identifies the best neighborhood design for a project based on the development team’s priority outcomes. 

By revealing the optimal design option, Delve helps developers meet or exceed a project’s economic goals while improving quality-of-life outcomes for residents and businesses.

To learn more about Delve and request a demo please reach out to delve@sidewalklabs.com

Delve by Sidewalk Labs

Joris Laarman Lab

The first 3D printed steel bridge, MX3D's Smart Bridge, is unveiled today by Máxima, Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, in the city centre of Amsterdam. It is now open to the public in the oldest neighborhood of Amsterdam. 

The futuristic multi-award-winning bridge, designed by Joris Laarman Lab with Arup as lead engineer, is now placed over one of the oldest canals in Amsterdam's red-light district. MX3D kicked off this project in 2015 when it proposed printing a metal bridge with its innovative large-scale, robotic 3Dprinting technology, creating a playful, inspiring example of how digital tools can create a new form language for architectural objects.

Source: https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/koningin-maxima-opent-de-eerste-metalen-3d-geprinte-brug-ter-wereld-op-de-oudezijds~b7b53931/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fmx3d.com%2F

Digital simulations of the bridge using Karamba3D

Smart Bridge

With over 10.000 kg of metal 3D printed objects and over 40 man-years of experience since 2014, MX3D is the company that brought large-scale robotic wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and its market to life and made enabling 3D metal printing more flexible, faster and cheaper.

Now, MX3D is ready to transform the market further by launching the first dedicated robotic WAAM software enabling companies, engineers and designers to print end-to-end large-scale 3D metal objects in-house.

MX3D became immediate innovation leader in 3D metal printing by presenting its jaw-dropping 12 meter long fully functional 3D printed stainless steel pedestrian bridge which will soon be installed in the heart of Amsterdam.

MX3D

Karamba3D is a parametric structural engineering tool which provides accurate analysis of spatial trusses, frames and shells.

Karamba3D

SoomeenHahn Design is a London based design studio that focuses on design research and practice.

SoomeenHahm Design

Fologram collaborated with SoomeenHahm Design, Igor Pantic, and Format Engineers to design and build Steampunk, the winning entry for the 2019 Tallinn Architecture Biennial installation competition. Fologram aided the team during fabrication and assembly.

Utilization of the timber/steel composite structure in Karamba3D/ Displacement analysis

Steampunk Pavilion

Fologram’s software provides designers with a toolkit to create mixed reality experiences within design software they already use, and view and share these experiences through the Fologram app running on mobile phones or Microsoft's mixed reality headsets the Hololens.  Fologram’s clients include leading universities, multinational architectural firms, industrial designers, engineers and artists who using Fologram to create mixed reality applications for full scale construction, public art, architectural fabrication, sculpture, automotive design and visualisation.

Fologram is a software ecosystem that allows Mixed Reality hardware running our standalone application to talk to desktop design software running the Fologram plugin. Geometry and other model information from your design software is streamed to your headset or mobile phone, and spatial information like device or hand positions are sent back in real time. By using this spatial information to trigger changes in design models, designers can use Fologram to build interactive mixed reality experiences. 

A feature rich free mobile version is avaible at https://fologram.com/download, and a 14 day trial for Hololens users.


AllBrick using Fologram on the Hobart Hospital Redevelopment

Jack Hunter from Uni of Washington using Fologam for robotic control and path visualization 

Akio Hamada Architects & Eri Sumitomo Architects using Fologram to guide a chainsaw operator in producing furniture

UAP using Fologram in their production of large scale public art

Fologram

Artillion studio using Fologram as part of their fabrication process

Rhinoceros 3D is a 3D computer graphics and computer-aided design application software developed by the American company Robert McNeel & Associates. Utilizing NURBS mathematical modeling to produce precise representations of free-form, curving surfaces, Rhino is used in industries such as architecture, industrial design, automotive design, product design, and multimedia and graphic design.

Rhino 3D

Grasshopper is a visual programming language and environment that pairs with Rhino 3D, a software program also developed by Robert McNeel & Associates. Grasshopper allows users to build algorithms by dragging and connecting components on a digital canvas. From parametric modeling and fabrication, lighting performance analysis, to building energy consumption, Grasshopper provides an intuitive way to explore design without requiring programming experience.

Grasshopper

Caddisfly Add-on for Grasshopper Main Poster

Ardaena: Network of Professionals 

This project was presented to Ardaena in 2018 by Vikonen Company from Turkey to create an alternative to the process of designing, optimizing and producing manufacturing parts for this project.

Proposal for an alternative design

Caddisfly is a series of tools for Complex Structures and Free Forms Detail Designing. The main idea has been based upon having the process from Conceptual Design, Analyze to Construction on Free Form Structures Automatically by less than 7 clicks. It is being developed by Python and C# both for a better flexibility up and running for different components.

The model and grid and nodes and profiles

Caddisfly: producing Space Structures Nodes & Bars in 3D formatted, for CNC Fabrication.

Caddisfly 

Kangaroo can generate structures in static equilibrium in a simple and intuitive way using dynamic relaxation. Once we have this equilibrium structure we can rearrange the force vectors to form such a reciprocal diagram. 

KANGAROO 

Ladybug Tools is a collection of free computer applications that support environmental design and education. Of all the available environmental design software packages, Ladybug Tools is among the most comprehensive, connecting 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) interfaces to a host of validated simulation engines.

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