A Richmond backyard project
A little more room for everyday life. An apartment above, a garage and garden office below, and a stair that opens back to the yard.
Get to know the plan
A design study for discussion. Dimensions, structure, zoning, and permits still need field verification and professional review.
01 / The everyday spaces
The revised plan clears the center of the apartment and gives the downstairs hall room to work. Switch floors to see how furniture, doors, and movement fit together.
Clearer circulation. A 39-inch lower hall, an L-shaped kitchen and peninsula, and no freestanding media wall.
A common reference. The plans and model views now come from the revised schematic geometry.
02 / Look around
These views are drawn from the building model. See the west-facing garage, the yard-facing patios, and the furniture inside without an imagined room changing the plan.
The interactive model
Orbit the building, change floors, or step back to see the site.
03 / The decisions that matter
The original sketch asked for both an office and a substantial sunroom. The current scheme prioritizes the garage. That choice deserves a direct comparison.
A 23-ft clear parking zone keeps the garage useful. The approximately 70-sq-ft garden office gives the ground floor a separate place to work and a door to the yard.
The tradeoff The garden office is not the generous sunroom shown in the original sketch.
See the current ground floor ↗An 18-ft clear parking zone makes room for approximately 121 sq ft of connected garden space. Test this against the actual vehicle and workshop needs.
The tradeoff Reduced parking depth. This is an alternative study, not the selected model.
Compare the alternative ↗A building in its context
The working site plan places the ADU at the back of the lot, with a south stair, east patios, and a slimmer replacement shed.
Setbacks, grades, drainage, utilities, and access need survey and professional confirmation. Four-foot patios are circulation space first; seating needs a separate fit test.
Printable site plan ↗
Site + zoning Survey, room classification, official area and height calculations, setbacks, and a fresh check of local rules.
Building + systems Garage separation, stair and guards, structural design, utilities, drainage, energy, and finished headroom.
Everyday use Actual vehicle, appliance and furniture sizes; laundry access; balcony seating; and final material choices.
04 / The working record
The current design is a schematic study. Keep the source records and earlier ideas close, while keeping their status clear.
Plans, elevations, sections, and preliminary engineering coordination.
Schematic · not for constructionBRIEF ↗Design intent, working constraints, open questions, and professional review.
Owner planning briefSVG ↗Full-size vector drawing for closer inspection and markup.
Option F · revision 2Earlier options document the design process. The AI images below are mood references only: their geometry differs from the current plans.
Design direction: restrained Craftsman proportions, double-teardrop siding to relate to the 1931 house, durable details, and warm materials. Final color is open.
This recording predates revision 2. Use the current drawings and model for the revised layout.
Open the earlier walkthrough ↗
