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Pleasure Point ADU
Set within Santa Cruz’s historically laid-back but rapidly gentrifying Pleasure Point neighborhood, this project originated with our client’s vision to breathe new life into a 1910-era farmhouse property. Their goal was to restore the site’s vintage, 2-story farmhouse at the site and construct a new detached garage plus this freestanding accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The overall Master Plan for the project adopts the long-term vision, with flexibility in the use of the property admitting of several future development scenarios made possible under the recently enacted SB-9 legislation.
The ADU itself has been designed to be built out in two phases to meet the client’s evolving needs. Phase One results in an 800-square-foot ground floor build-out that serves as both an art studio and a flexible living space, complete with a sleeping area, bathroom, and kitchenette. The design emphasizes uninterrupted wall surfaces to support the display and creation of artwork, shifting the role of natural light to above: strategically placed skylights bathe the interior in daylight without compromising wall space.
The palette inside is deliberately utilitarian yet striking. ADX plywood wall sheathing, bright corrugated metal ceiling panels, and exposed heavy timber beams lend the studio a raw, creative energy. The roof rises from a 10-foot plate height to a nearly 15-foot ridge, enhancing volume and airiness.
A planned Phase Two second-story addition will expand the structure to 1,200 square feet, transforming the building into a true carriage house with ground-floor garage and an upper-level studio apartment. This forward-looking approach allows the project to grow in order to accommodate either the client’s or their descendant’s future needs.
The exterior reinforces the coastal character of Pleasure Point with thermally modified vertical board siding, soft teal-green knee braces and trim, and bright copper gutters, downspouts, and a rain chain that will patina gracefully over time. Together, these elements create a lively yet refined presence within a neighborhood in transition.
Permits were secured in June 2025, and construction is now well underway, marking another step forward in reimagining historic Santa Cruz properties for contemporary living.
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501 Mission Street, Suite #2, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 • tel 831-462-9138 •
©2025
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