Modern Hillside Residence and Attached ADU in Hayward
The Palisade Residence is a modern hillside home in Hayward, California, rebuilt after a fire damaged the original residence.
Project Overview
The owners wanted a larger home with an attached accessory dwelling unit while preserving the existing retaining walls, entry staircase, portions of the foundation, and garage location.
Project Information
The 7,959-square-foot site complies with Hayward’s RSB6 zoning standards, Hillside Design Guidelines, and Wildland-Urban Interface requirements.
The 2- to 3-story rebuild includes a 3,428-square-foot main residence and a 1,175-square-foot attached ADU, providing 4,603 square feet of habitable space and a total gross building area of 5,368 square feet.
Site and Design Challenges
The irregular lot is located on an upslope hillside with an elevation change of approximately 10 feet. Residential properties border three sides of the site, making privacy, building height, massing, views, and the relationship to neighboring homes important considerations.
The design is also needed to preserve the lower-level garage and first-floor elevation, provide independent access to the attached ADU, and avoid the appearance of three stacked stories. These conditions helped define the building envelope and shape the final hillside residence.
Design Solution
The residence was organized around the slope, existing garage, and front-facing views. Rather than stacking the building vertically, the main residence was arranged across three connected levels, with the upper portions stepped back from the floors below. This step reduces the apparent building height and allows the structure to relate more naturally to the hillside.
The primary bedroom was set back several feet from the front elevation and includes an enclosed balcony. A second balcony on the right provides another bedroom with similar views and adds depth to the front façade.
The main level includes a large great room, a spacious kitchen, two bedrooms, and a central hallway connecting the entrance to the stairways. The main residence contains eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
The two-story attached ADU in Hayward sits on the right side of the building and has a separate entrance from the side yard. Its first floor includes a living room, kitchen, dining area, and powder room. The second floor contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms, offering greater independence while remaining integrated with the main residence.
Services Provided
Arbel Design provided feasibility studies, existing-condition review, hillside residential building design, attached ADU design, floor plan development, exterior elevations, massing studies, 3D visualization, construction documents, permit plans, consultant coordination, and permit submittal support.
Planning a Hillside Residence or Rebuild?
Contact Arbel Design to discuss your hillside residence, fire-damaged home rebuild, or attached ADU project in Hayward or the Bay Area.
