Accessory dwelling units

A separate home.Part of the whole property.

For owners and design teams considering an ADU alongside a larger renovation, new home or considered property plan.

An accessory dwelling unit brings another place to live into an existing property. Its relationship with the main home, landscape and daily routines deserves as much thought as its floor plan. We consider ADU work where it fits a substantial, coordinated residential project.

Discuss your project

Begin with the whole property.

The important questions extend beyond where a second building might fit. Arrival, outdoor space, privacy, views between windows and construction access all influence how the two homes will work together.

We review the proposed scope with your architect and identify the site information and construction questions that need attention. A property-specific assessment establishes what can be built; a general service page cannot determine eligibility.

Relationship to the main residence
Shared and separate routes through the site
Survey, records and unresolved site questions

Choose the form that suits the brief.

A detached ADU creates a separate building. A garage conversion starts with an existing structure and a different set of investigations. Neither option should be chosen on floor area alone.

The team should compare the usable layout, existing construction, service connections and effect on the rest of the property. We help identify the construction implications of each approach before treating them as comparable scopes.

Detached construction or existing-building conversion
Privacy, light and usable room arrangements
Interfaces with retained buildings and landscape

Plan a complete place to live.

An ADU includes independent living facilities. Cooking, bathing, heating, ventilation and utility connections need to be coordinated with the architectural plan and applicable requirements.

Compact rooms make dimensions especially important. Door swings, storage, appliance clearances and service access should be resolved alongside the interior details. Your design team directs those choices; we coordinate construction and trade information.

Utility routes and equipment locations
Interior dimensions and storage details
Current specifications for construction

Build it within the wider sequence.

When an ADU is part of a larger project, the sequence should address shared trenching, deliveries, retained access and protection of completed work. An early decision in one area can avoid disturbing another area later.

We define the agreed scope and interfaces, record changes and coordinate the required construction reviews. Permit, utility and inspection requirements are confirmed for the specific project.

Shared work and separate handover stages
Site access and finish protection
Recorded decisions and completion information

The work.
In sequence.

Each stage brings a different set of questions into focus. The programme develops around your scope, the available information and the decisions still ahead.

Property and brief

Review the intended use, overall property plan, existing records and the design team’s initial options.

Scope and connections

Define the building approach, utility interfaces, selections and boundaries with other work.

Coordinated construction

Plan site access and trade activities around both the ADU and the main project.

Completion and use

Review outstanding work, required approvals and operating information for the separate dwelling.

Before we begin

Your questions.
A clearer start.

Is an ADU the same as a guest room or home office?

No. An ADU is an independent dwelling with the required living facilities. A guest room, studio or office may follow a different approval path. Establish the intended use with your design team before naming or pricing the project.

How do ADUs fit into your services?

Our primary focus is custom homes and major renovations. We consider ADUs where their scope and design fit the wider property project.

Can you confirm that my property qualifies?

Eligibility, permitted form and site requirements need review against the actual property and current rules. Share the address, available records and your architect’s information; the relevant design professionals and authorities establish the approval path.

Should we build the ADU before the main renovation?

There is no universal sequence. Shared utility work, access, occupancy needs and approvals all matter. We discuss the interfaces before setting separate construction or handover stages.

Technical references

General information supports the discussion. The requirements for your property come from its jurisdiction, approved documents and appointed professionals.

Bring the plans.
And the questions.

Tell us about the property, your design team and the work you have in mind. We can begin while some of that is still taking shape.

Discuss your project

Useful for the first conversation

Project location and intended scope
Current drawings and available site information
Your architect or interior designer
Construction budget range and desired timing

Introducing your practice? Meet the construction partner.