In the small town of Fairfax, California, general contractor Alex Martin and his wife Annalisa Chasan, a ceramicist and Pilates instructor, have transformed their unused backyard into a stunning dual-purpose accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The $360,675 project features custom yellow-framed windows that cost $55,000, representing the biggest splurge in their budget breakdown but serving as an essential design element to flood the space with natural light.
The couple owns a double lot behind their historic 1912 home in Marin County, which had previously been "just a big expanse of thirsty grass," according to Annalisa. While they had initially envisioned their children playing soccer in the large yard, the reality was that the space went largely unused and wasn't suitable for grass in California's climate. During the pandemic, they decided to make the area functional by taking advantage of local ordinances that allowed for ADU construction.
The unique brief for an artist and Pilates studio intrigued the young San Francisco-based architecture firm Obata Noblin Office (ONO), cofounded by Tyler Noblin and Max Obata in 2020. Alex had previously met Obata through his work at Spiegel Aihara Workshop, while Noblin and Obata had worked together at Snøhetta's San Francisco office. After a poolside consultation, site walk, and neighborhood bike rides, the ONO architects developed their concept through physical models and secured the commission.
"It was an idea we had never heard before," says Obata of the dual-purpose building design. The architects focused on orientation as their primary design strategy, creating a boomerang-shaped structure angled around an existing magnolia tree in the garden. This innovative layout naturally divides the workout and art-making wings while forming an interior courtyard with the main house.
The ceramics workspace features large sliding glass doors on one side, allowing Annalisa to enjoy landscape views and maintain visual connection with her family. On the opposite street-facing wall, afternoon sunlight streams through a row of custom clerestory windows made in Sacramento with powder-coated yellow aluminum frames. This window set, costing $55,000, represents the project's most significant single expense but was deemed essential for bringing natural light into the studio space.
One of the project's initial design precedents was Ryōan-ji, the famous rock viewing garden in Kyoto, where a raised building focuses views on the meditative landscape, explains Obata. "Views to nature are equally important in the Pilates area, where floor-to-ceiling panes capture morning sun." This connection to nature serves both functional and spiritual purposes for the building's dual uses.
The detailed budget breakdown reveals strategic spending across all construction phases. Major expenses included $29,000 for framing, $30,500 for cabinets, $29,925 for solar installation, $26,000 for roofing and gutters, $23,000 for foundations, and $22,000 for plumbing and radiant heating. The $21,000 spent on siding and shingles helped the building blend with neighborhood vernacular, while $19,250 covered electrical work and $15,000 went toward tadelakt bathroom walls and plaster floors.
Each interior area required specific functional considerations tailored to its intended use. The sculpture studio needed a workhorse sink integrated into a 12-foot-long zinc countertop costing $6,500, easy-to-maintain plaster flooring from EcoStucco, a dedicated kiln nook, and display space for Annalisa's ceramic artworks. The movement studio required natural light, locally sourced engineered wood flooring for $5,500, integrated radiant heating, and adequate space for a Pilates wall unit and floor mats.
The two spaces achieve distinctly different atmospheres despite their shared structure. Annalisa describes the neutral-toned Pilates studio as "a quiet, intimate experience where people can relax," while the art space maintains energetic separation through colorful built-ins and freestanding furniture. A folding screen door provides physical division between the areas, though the tongue-and-groove bleached wood ceiling overhead creates continuity throughout the structure.
The building's exterior showcases thoughtful material choices that respond to both neighborhood context and architectural vision. Cedar siding clads the garden-facing facade and eaves over the wraparound deck, materials that will naturally weather to silver over time. On the street-side face, Noblin and Obata chose cedar shingles to match local vernacular, though the distinctive lemon-hued window frames remain prominently visible as a bold design statement.
"As you move around in the courtyard, the building changes personality," says Obata. "We really love to bring an atmosphere of mystery or the unexpected to our projects," particularly with small-scale structures where clients tend to be more adventurous. This dynamic quality creates different experiences from various vantage points around the property.
For Obata, the project held personal significance beyond its architectural merits. "My mom [Courtney Bean Obata] was a ceramic artist and she had a studio in our house growing up," he explains. "I think it all came full circle for me seeing this light-filled studio being used by a working artist." Architecture runs in Obata's family—his late father, Gyo, cofounded the major firm HOK.
The building incorporates forward-thinking sustainability features, operating as an all-electric structure that produces some of its own energy through solar panels. The tadelakt-clad three-quarter bathroom, fitted with Vola fixtures, primarily serves the Pilates studio but could support future use as a guesthouse. A small room off the ceramics wing could easily convert to a bedroom, while bespoke blue cabinetry serves multiple functions as storage, seating, and display space.
The impact on Annalisa's artistic practice has been transformative. "This is the biggest space I've ever been able to work in, and once I moved in, I had a crazy burst of creativity making large objects that I didn't even know were in me," she continues. "Once you spread your wings, it's like, 'Hey, look at my wingspan.'" Her sculpture practice focuses mainly on ceramic vessels, though as a movement professional, she's also interested in body-inspired pieces, including works inspired by the spine.
At night, the building glows like a lantern, making both studios visible and creating a magical presence in the garden courtyard. This ethereal quality transforms the structure from a daytime workspace into an evening beacon of creativity, demonstrating how thoughtful design can serve multiple purposes throughout the day and seasons.
The project team included Max Obata as architect of record from Obata Noblin Office, Alex Martin Construction Inc. as builder and general contractor, and Katy Briggs from Base Design as structural engineer. The successful collaboration between client, architect, and builder resulted in a unique structure that maximizes both natural light and functional flexibility within a carefully considered budget framework.
