A collaboration between Sydney-based James Garvan Architecture and local Californian firm ARA-la Studio has produced L.A. Pavilion – a 52 square metre accessory dwelling unit (ADU) sited in the heart of Venice, Los Angeles.

Designed as a creative sanctuary for a couple in the advertising industry and their young son, the project is a thoughtful integration of Californian ease and Australian ingenuity.

Though modest in scale, the pavilion makes a bold impression on two fronts. Its street-facing façade maintains a crisp, rectilinear form, visually extending the property’s white fence with diagonally installed redwood siding. But to the rear the geometry shifts—a curving, sculptural envelope punctuated by round skylights and angular shutters offers a playful counterpoint.

The material palette is rich yet relaxed: stained cedar clads the pavilion, while pale green stucco and white-painted redwood creates cohesion with the main house.

Every inch is optimized – custom cabinetry hides a Murphy bed, laundry, and storage, while the adjacent garage doubles as a showroom and studio for bikes, surfboards, and vehicles. A spiral steel stair leads to a rooftop terrace with views of Penman Park while an outdoor shower below, captures the pavilion’s breezy, surf-inspired ethos.