Paraiso De Rocas Antiguas

Paraiso De Rocas Antiguas is a contemporary ADU designed to sit lightly within a historic residential landscape. Positioned into the hillside and anchored by arroyo stone walls, the structure responds to both environmental conditions and the architectural language of its surroundings.

Paraiso De Rocas Antiguas

Year
2025
Size
764.3 sq ft
Location
Cypress Park, CA
Services
New Construction, Interior Design, Sustainable upgrades
The design considers building performance, material integrity, and occupant experience as interconnected systems. Through careful siting, passive cooling strategies, and restrained material choices, the project creates a durable, health-conscious dwelling that engages the natural environment without visual or ecological excess.

Design Goals

  • Integrate a contemporary ADU into a historically cohesive neighborhood
  • Reduce operational energy demands through passive and efficient design strategies
  • Establish a strong relationship between architecture, landscape, and topography
  • Prioritize material integrity, longevity, and interior environmental quality
  • Create a calm, light-filled dwelling that connects occupants to the natural world

Project Key Features & Highlights

Interior Details
  • ADU partially embedded into the hillside to moderate interior temperatures
  • Northern-facing doors and windows maximizing natural light while reducing heat gain
  • Seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces
  • All-electric home systems supporting a simplified, efficient building operation
  • Fully independent access enabled by dual street frontage
Materials & Custom Elements
  • Contemporary wood-clad volumes positioned between arroyo stone retaining walls
  • Natural plaster wall and ceiling finishes eliminating the need for applied paint
  • Natural wood cladding used in place of manufactured composite products
  • Paperstone countertops fabricated from compressed recycled paper
  • Custom hand-painted coral tile in the bathroom, locally produced
  • Bespoke furnishings crafted by local artisans from salvaged urban trees
  • Hemp-based fabrics and drapery with nature-inspired patterns
Craftsmanship Notes
  • Arroyo stone walls constructed to reference historic neighborhood precedents
  • Structural siting coordinated to preserve a mature 100-year-old Live Oak tree
  • Material selections evaluated for durability, sourcing, and indoor air quality
  • Custom furnishings designed and fabricated in collaboration with local craftspeople
  • Interior finishes detailed to minimize off-gassing and long-term maintenance