Bo Sundius of Bunch Design | Stop Making Sense ADU in Los Angeles | Designing Small Spaces

American Building

I’m joined by Bo Sundius, the owner of Bunch Design. His latest project, the Stop Making Sense Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), explores how you can make a small space feel big. ADUs are 1,200 square foot houses built on an existing single family home property. The space must include a kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom. Bo highlights that this format allows for some income flexibility that can really help middle class dreams come true, provide a space to help care for aging parents, and respond to the housing crisis in California.

Bo walks us through his firm’s typical design process and how they went about designing this specific project. His approach is to think outside of the box, literally and figuratively, and imagine the space from the inside out. Making an 800-to-1,200 square foot home feel expansive and airy isn’t necessarily about the construction, but rather cognition. His design includes vaulted ceilings, skylights, and minimal corners.

Growing up in a home that was built on land and water, it’s no surprise that Bo rejects the idea of cookie cutter houses. We talk about trends of pre-design without prefabrication, his thoughts about the sustainability of venture capital-driven innovation in design and construction, and the reality of 3D printed homes. We also touch on the future of property development in light of historical and recent economic booms and busts.

About the Guest:

Bo Sundius is the owner of Bunch Design, the Los Angeles-based design firm he founded with his wife Hisako Ichiki. Bunch Design’s work crosses product, building and urban scales and has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Los Angeles Times and Dwell Magazine. Previously, he worked at Jerde and at Roto Architects, both in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Brown University and Sci-Arc.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• How Bo’s unique childhood home changed his perspective on the possibilities of architecture
• Bo’s non-traditional college and career path
• Background on Bunch Design, the firm that he started with his wife
• The pros and cons of ADUs
• The ripple effect of living in more adaptive and intuitive spaces
• Challenges and opportunities in 3D printed homes
• Ways to create flexibility in single-family homes and work environments

About Your Host

“Atif Qadir is the Founder & CEO of REDIST, a technology company making it easy for commercial real estate professionals to find and use the $100B of real estate incentives given out every year in the US.”

Resources and Links

• Bo Sundius’ LinkedIn
• Bunch Design Website
• Grab our exclusive guide Seven Tips on How to Stand Out in Your Field
• Learn more on the American Building website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Connect with Atif Qadir on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Michael Graves
• Learn more about REDIST
• Learn more about the Alzheimer's Foundation of America