MY TRAN STUDIO

A well-maintained home built in 1966-67, with an

additional bedroom added in 1992. Despite its good

condition, the house faced mildew issues and required

maintenance due to compact interior walls that blocked

airflow, heat circulation, and natural light.

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The house features three distinct roof sections: exposed

beams and rafters from the garage to the living room,

trusses with attic space extending to the bedroom, and

beams and rafters continuing through the back. The floor

is raised 2’-6” on post-and-beam construction, supported

by tofu footings and CMU walls. The area is prone to

flooding, with water occasionally reaching the underside

of the floor.

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Noticing the layout created dead ends and lacked

sunlight, our design solution involved removing some

interior walls and transforming the space into a central

step-down garden with a large skylight above. The

skylight will be placed in the trussed section, reinforced

with beams to support it. The garden will feature a

Japanese-style design with gravel and rocks, and CMU

walls will be added around the perimeter to prevent

flooding.

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This solution improves ventilation, light, and connectivity,

making the garden the home’s central focal point while

preserving its mid-century character.