When Michael Solomon and his late wife, Dr. Naomi Lieberman, decided to add an ADU to their backyard, they had little idea of the journey the space would take them on.

The couple had lived in their 1-bed, 1-bath, 1,300-square-foot home in Santa Monica’s Sunset Park neighborhood since purchasing it in 1994 for $300,000, a jaw-dropping number by today’s standards in an area where the median home sells for $1.9 million, according to Redfin. Over two decades later, they were ready for more space—particularly Michael, who was working out of the couple’s garage. The couple envisioned a small ADU that would function primarily as Michael's office but could also double as a guest suite. From the outset, sustainability, healthy materials, and a midcentury modern aesthetic were top priorities.

After encountering a project by Minarc on a Dwell Home Tour in Venice, California, the couple sought out the local firm, which is run by Icelandic couple Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, for their ADU.

$25,000 Foundation	$42,000 Structural	$24,000 Wall Finishes
$7,500 Roofing	$2,500 Hardware	$9,500 Electrical
$7,500 Plumbing	$5,000 HVAC	$17,000 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
$1,500 Lighting	$4,500 Cabinetry	$1,500 Countertops
$3,500 Appliances	$12,500 Windows & Glazing	$750 Doors
$1,500 Millwork	$4,500 Tilework	$1,500 Metalwork
$35,000 Furnishings & Decor	$15,500 Solar panels & Batteries	$2,500 Permitting
$50,000 General Contractor Fee	$25,000 Architect/Design Fee
Grand Total:$299,750

They landed on a custom version of Minarc’s Plús Hús, a 320-square-foot prefabricated energy efficient model. Michael came to the table with a sauna and steam shower from Aquapeutics that didn’t fit into the standard Plús Hús and had to be integrated into the ADU's design. “In a way, everything was built around the sauna,” says Tryggvi. The couple also opted for an expanded 400-square-foot build that features additional windows with strategic placement for enhanced cross ventilation and upgraded materials. The sliding floor-to-ceiling glass panels, however, are a standard feature.

The prefabricated ADU utilizes mmmMOD panels, which are a wood-free, fire-resistant material—patented and produced by Minarc—crafted from recycled steel and resilient expanded polystyrene insulation board. There’s no paint or carpeting inside the ADU in order to minimize the presence of volatile organic compounds, which are known to have harmful health effects. There’s also minimal furniture, save for a Murphy bed that pulls down over the sofa, as well as a small table and chairs from Design Within Reach that Michael brought over from the home.

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The ADU was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and Solomon and Lieberman quickly settled into their backyard refuge. Then, Naomi, who had been diagnosed with cancer in 2013, experienced a rapid progression of her illness, which changed how they wanted to use the space. Too sick to go to her usual office but still wanting to see her longtime psychoanalysis clients, Naomi began a virtual practice from the ADU, which she continued until she passed away the following year.

A month after her death, Russia invaded Ukraine, and through a friend, Michael was connected to human rights attorney Michael Bazyler, who founded Ukrainian Mothers and Children Transport right after the war began to secure US visas for Ukrainian families. Through Bazyler, Michael learned of 18-year-old Alex Bogancha, whose family had fled to Austria and who was seeking a stable home near Santa Monica College, where he had been admitted.

Driven to help, Michael offered the ADU to Alex, where he still lives today.

Since then, Michael says, Alex has become family: “He’s the best kid in the world." Alex also once again transformed the ADU to suit his own eclectic twenty-year-old aesthetic and interests. “Alex uses my Eero Saarinen chair as his place to create electronic music,” says Michael. “I used to be in the music business and I have friends who donated a guitar, an amplifier, and some recording software so that he can record.”

Bazyler was eventually able to help the rest of Alex’s family secure visas as well. While the ADU doesn’t have enough room for all of them, they visit often.

“His family moved 19 times since they left Ukraine,” says Michael, who has built a strong bond with Alex and his family. “This, to me, is what architecture has become. It's not just a building. It's a place where people live their lives. It's the beauty of design coupled with human stories.”

More Budget Breakdowns:

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Project Credits:

Architects: Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, Minarc

Builder/General Contractor: Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, ERLA Construction

Landscape, Lighting, Interiors: Minarc

Structural Engineer: DCA

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For $299K, a Santa Monica ADU Is a Refugee’s Chance to Start Again