Stiff Peaks ADU

Nestled mid-hillside in Echo Park beside Elysian Park, Stiff Peaks is a compact writing studio with a whimsical, scalloped parapet echoing its secret garden–like context.

The design features fluid, curved walls, a skylight-topped roof deck, and an integrated powder room—all within a single-room structure. NOUS provided structural engineering to enable the delicate form, bolster hillside integration, and preserve the poetic atmosphere of this intimate retreat.

Location
Los Angeles, CA USA

Client
Private

Architect
Byben and Skeens

Staff Lead
Omar Garza, SE

Completed
2021

Size
480 SF

Photography
Taiyo Watanabe

Recognition

AIA Residential Architecture Award
Dwell, “A Los Angeles Screenwriter’s Enchanting Backyard Gets a WFH Studio to Match”
Forbes, Opening Feature

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Get in touch with
Omar