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Concrete and weathered steel form the home’s low-profile western facade, anchoring it to the desert.

Floor Plan of

Floor Plan of Casa Cookie by Kelly Kai, Rancho Morongo

Architect TaeByoung Yim designed a compact residence in Seoul, Korea, with designated space for studying and entertaining.

The 1,000-square-foot ADU is two levels with a footprint that allows the owners to retain plenty of outdoor space for their dogs to play. The facade “is a rain screen system, so the heat gain on the Brazilian hardwood is minimized by being physically separated by an air gap between it and the membrane behind it,” says Knight. “So, the wood heats up when sun hits it, and this is not directly translated into the wall on the interior; it is instead buffered by this air gap.” The large doors and second-story skylights then work together to pull a nice breeze through the house.

The project's prime, corner lot real estate dictated the organization of the separate living quarters. The main house's driveway and entryway, for example, are located on Maude Street, giving permanent residents a sense of privacy.

View from lakeside dock

Front of the house.

Another view of the studio.

The ramped bridge that leads to an upper yard and pool