Working on the ADU design for the LA City pre-approved standard plan program.

Couldn't have said it better myself

Did you know? #SB1123 doesn’t require the entire lot to be vacant or abandoned. You can keep the existing house on a remainder lot and split the rest of the property. The diagram attached is from our current project—it shows how SB1123 can work on larger single-family lots with

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE DID IT!!!!!!

@California_HCD help

City: We’ll think about it for 2 days. …2 weeks later: We’re still not sure how to interpret. For now: denied. You can only convert the garage, no second ADU. We’ll wait for HCD to clarify. — Am I being gaslighted here, or did we actually misread the code?

We pointed them to the HCD ADU Handbook + Gov Code §66323. It says—even for ONE single-family home—you can: 1.convert an existing accessory structure AND https://t.co/JuGZjyiU0M a detached ADU.

City of Burbank just denied our ADU application 🧵 Here’s the setup: Lot with 2 single-family homes and detached garage. We proposed to: – convert the garage into an ADU – build another ADU on top City: Nope. You only get one ADU. Because 2 homes ≠ duplex.

Honestly can’t believe so many people braved pouring rain in LA. These folks are committed 💪 Thanks @ErikYesayan @kevinskiles @nodoublemint @LuKapreliants @CohenSite @ClaytonNall @orangutanagram @nowcowan @GDCAndrew & so many others. Come out tomorrow for LA County’s workshop

The backlash is growing. Limiting buildable area devalues properties, discourages investment, and drives up housing costs. Meanwhile, affluent buyers from fire-affected Pacific Palisades—who might have stayed in the city—may now bypass these (potentially) restricted zones

Under the proposed LA Wildlife Ordinance, basements in many areas could be heavily restricted. By including them in Residential Floor Area (RFA) calculations—while also reducing allowable RFA—the ordinance would make basements essentially infeasible to build.

In affluent LA homes, basements aren’t just storage—they’re daylit, immersive spaces for entertainment, relaxation, and gatherings. In hillside areas, they serve as lower levels with the same stunning views as the upper floors. It’s a smart way to maximize space while staying

Thoughts on basements & how a proposed LA Ordinance could ban them 🧵 We’re breaking ground on a high-end project in Cheviot Hills this month: here is a rendering of the inner courtyard at the basement level—a light-filled, seamlessly integrated space.

🏗️ Our new SB9 in Encino is taking shape: Lot size: 7,045 sf Duplex: 3,168 sf ADU 1: 800 sf ADU 2: 800 sf

We spoke with a Palisades Fire survivor who wants to rebuild, but she’s worried they’ll require her to upgrade her foundation to piles—something she can’t afford. Even if an old foundation is destroyed, can it be rebuilt like-for-like? It’s all unclear to me.

Mayor Bass issued an Emergency Order today for fire debris removal ahead of the rain. If you’re in the affected areas, keep an eye on the process—heavy equipment can damage existing foundations, making rebuilding far more costly, as one Woolsey Fire survivor learned the hard

Rowen House The Rowen House was a subtle yet sophisticated take on modernism—minimalist, refined, and true to its International Style origins. Designed in 1957 by Josef Van der Kar, it prioritized functionality, clean lines, and a seamless connection to nature.

Unlike many modernist homes, it combined architectural boldness with warmth, expanding on Wright’s Organic Architecture while embracing the openness of California living.

Ray Kappe’s Keeler House A true California Modernist masterpiece, the Keeler House reflected LA’s bold, innovative spirit. Designed by Ray Kappe in 1991, it seamlessly merged glass, wood, and concrete into a floating retreat nestled among the trees in Pacific Palisades.

Suspended 70 feet above Sunset Boulevard, it seemed to defy gravity. Its avant-garde design and daring engineering made it an unforgettable gem—one that embodied LA’s bold, boundary-pushing spirit. Now lost to the flames.

Robert Bridges House Designed by Robert Bridges, this striking home had an air of mystery. The New York Times compared it to a Bond villain’s lair or a reclusive Hollywood mogul’s retreat.