Seaside Predesigned ADUs

Our first prototype ADU program project was with the City of Seaside, executed on time and budget during the first nine months of the pandemic. This coastal community has almost identically sized lots, and to meet this consistent site, the City requested one floor plan with multiple roof lines and exterior finishes. 

Coastal landscape with rocky shoreline, ocean waves, and colorful vegetation.

Client

Seaside Planning

Location

City of Seaside, CA

Status

Approved designs released to public in 2022

Sites

Sites throughout Seaside

Design Sizes

550 SF, 1-Bedroom, 1-Bath
750 SF, 2-Bedroom, 1-Bath
1,200 SF, 3-Bedroom, 2-Bath

Services

Architecture, Pre-designed ADU Education Materials

Expertise

California and Local ADU Regulations

Modern architectural rendering of a small house with a single-sloped roof, large windows, and a garden path leading to the entrance, set in a landscaped yard with circular seating area and surrounded by trees.
Illustration of a small, modern house with a gable roof, surrounded by greenery and a few people interacting in the yard.
A modern, small house with a sloped roof and wooden exterior, situated in a landscaped garden with a patio. The house has large windows and a lit entrance door. The scene includes trees and a figure walking in the garden.

We focused on the homeowner experience in this program, making the drawings and process as user-friendly as possible. This groundwork is now the foundation of all our Pre-Approved ADU work. In addition to the user experience, energy performance was a design driver- the plans are all-electric and feature energy-efficient detailing. 

Workbench collaborated with the United Way of Monterey County and the City to provide homeowners with additional information and streamline the ADU-building process for all parties involved.

3D model of a simple single-story house with a gray gabled roof, white exterior siding, and multiple windows.

The Saltbox

  • Modern design with a spacious feeling interior

  • Includes 110 square feet of lofted space and 30 square feet of lofted storage space

3D rendering of a modern, white, single-story house with a slanted roof, multiple windows, and a door.

Seaside Shed

  • Simplified form

  • 135 square feet of lofted storage

3D rendering of a small modern house with a sloped roof, multiple windows, and textured exterior walls.

Rooflines to blend with main homes

Three exterior styles were created based on research of common home finishes in the Seaside area. Finish shape and materials were carefully chosen to blend with current architecture while providing long-term sustainability and durabilty.

The Gable

  • Traditional shape, fits in well with many types of architecture

  • Largest lofted area of all three models - 223 square feet of additional space

Modern living area with a loft, kitchen, and dog on wooden floor. Open shelving, light decor, and woman holding a baby in the doorway.
Modern living room with a sofa, coffee table, and TV; adjoining kitchen area with white cabinets; person holding baby in doorway; dog lying on floor, and books on a cabinet.
Modern open-concept living room and kitchen with hardwood floors, a black sofa, patterned pillow, coffee table, white cabinetry, and a loft area with a ladder. A dog lies on the floor. A wall-mounted TV displays a coastal scene. A person holding a ba
One-bedroom house floor plan with a kitchen, great room, bathroom, bedroom, and mechanical/storage area. Dimensions are 26' 3" by 30' 5". Outdoor space with three umbrellas shown.

Consultants

Structural: CM Taylor Structural Engineering, Inc.
Mechanical: ZAL Engineering

Related