The carriage house was likely constructed around the turn of the last century, with the traditional housing for animals on the first floor and a small living quarters on the second floor. The original structure included hay lofts and a central courtyard to store the carriages, and the property included horse stables nearby. ZFA worked closely with the owner and architect to remodel the residence and expand the living space, which resulted in an award-winning facility completed in 2019.
To increase the square footage to accommodate the owner’s large family gatherings and still meet the county’s requirements for accessory dwelling units, the design team developed strategies to maximize living spaces that could be defined as outdoor space—pool and patio areas occur on the south facing side, and outdoor dining, games, and an entertainment bar are set in the shaded courtyard. The old horse stalls now function as a wine cellar and reading area, taking advantage of the natural cooling of this space.
The living and dining rooms are connected via sliding glass walls, allowing those areas also to be utilized as exterior space with thermal mass keeping the temperature comfortable. Select steel framing was utilized to support expanded openings, and voluntary seismic upgrades were made throughout the structure to satisfy current building codes.