South Orange’s first ADU. A split-level reinterpreted for a family’s next chapter.

Aerial view of the Swoop ADU behind the existing split-level house, set in a cul-de-sac of mid-century homes among autumn trees in South Orange, NJ — The property from above: the Swoop ADU sits behind the existing split-level, within a cul-de-sac of nearly identical mid-century homes.

Sarah has lived in her South Orange split-level since the 1960s. The house sits within a cul-de-sac of nearly identical split-levels built around the same era, a neighborhood that has remained largely unchanged for decades. When Sarah began thinking about her next chapter, she wanted to stay on the property she knew. Downsizing into a nearby apartment or small single-story home seemed like the obvious path, but nothing on the market fit her needs or her budget.

Sarah’s daughter and son-in-law were ready to take over the main house. The family started looking for a way to let Sarah age in place in a home of her own while passing the larger house to the next generation. During their search, someone mentioned accessory dwelling units. South Orange, NJ was in the process of legalizing ADUs, and the timing lined up.

The family went to their local architect first, but the architect had no experience designing or permitting ADUs. They found Haven online and reached out. As an ADU design-and-build firm serving New Jersey and the tri-state area, Haven was able to take on the full scope: zoning research, design, the permit process, and connecting the family with vetted local builders. Sarah made it clear from the start that she wanted independence in this new home, but she was also open to something playful.

The site

Title: Swoop ADU site plan - Description: Swoop ADU site plan — Site plan: 1. Existing single-family house 2. Swoop ADU 3. Terrace 4. Easement and setback lines 5. Property boundary

The Swoop ADU is attached to the back of the existing home, connecting through the family’s shared garage. This configuration kept the ADU within the building envelope allowed by South Orange’s new regulations while preserving the front-facing streetscape of the neighborhood. The backyard opens onto a new terrace that serves both the ADU and the main house, shared outdoor space that keeps the family connected without anyone giving up privacy.

The Swoop ADU's white facade beside the existing home's two-car garage, seen from the street in autumn — From the street, the ADU reads as a calm white volume tucked beside the existing garage — the front of the block is left untouched.

Design decisions

Reading the split-level

The design started with the existing home. Split-levels from the 1960s typically have a two-material facade: something heavier on the bottom (stucco or brick) and siding on top. That material change creates a horizontal line that runs across nearly every house on the block.

In the Swoop ADU, that line gets a second life. Instead of running straight, it curves, dipping down around the front and back entries and rising to frame the windows. It’s a small move that ties the new structure to the old one while giving it its own personality. The ADU fits the neighborhood, but it doesn’t blend in.

The Swoop ADU's curved fiber-cement facade with its porthole window and sliding doors, beside the existing split-level — The curved line dips around the sliding doors and windows and rises to frame the porthole. The existing split-level is at right.

Close view of the round porthole window set into the Swoop ADU's curved white wall, with a neighbor passing on the lawn — A circular window punched into the curved wall — a motif that recurs inside and out.

Entry and layout

You enter through a small gabled porch that borrows a familiar roof shape from the surrounding houses. Inside, the space opens up quickly: a compact entry leads into a living room with 14-foot ceilings and a large picture window and glass patio door facing the backyard.

The Swoop ADU's bright orange front door set under a gabled porch carved into the curved facade — The entry: a small gabled porch borrows a familiar roof shape from the neighborhood, framing a bright orange front door.

Inside

The curves from the outside carry into the interior. A custom built-in in the living room picks up on the same shapes, and the kitchen, with Reform cabinetry and gray terrazzo counters, wraps around a circular window that looks out toward the cul-de-sac. The primary bedroom is tucked into the quietest corner of the property, with privacy and views to the garden.

The Swoop ADU's open-plan interior: a gray kitchen at right, living area with a green rug and the orange front door beyond — Inside, the entry opens directly into a single bright room — kitchen on one side, living area on the other.

The Swoop ADU kitchen with white Reform cabinetry, gray terrazzo counters and backsplash, and a round window over the sink — The kitchen wraps around a circular window, with Reform cabinetry and gray terrazzo counters and backsplash.

At 750 square feet, the layout makes the most of what it has. The two bedrooms are compact, but the living area feels generous thanks to the high ceilings and full-height sliding doors that open directly onto the backyard terrace.

The Swoop ADU living room: a vaulted ceiling, full-height sliding doors to the backyard, a green rug and a gray sofa — The living room: 14-foot ceilings, a clerestory window, and full-height sliding doors to the backyard.

The Swoop ADU primary bedroom with a full-height window onto the garden and a two-tone gray-and-white wall — The primary bedroom is tucked into the quietest corner of the lot, with a full-height window onto the garden.

The Swoop ADU bathroom vanity in terrazzo with a round porthole window above the sink — A round window and terrazzo carry the project’s materials into the bathroom.

First in South Orange

The Swoop ADU was the first accessory dwelling unit permitted and built in South Orange. That meant navigating a regulatory process that was still being defined. Haven worked directly with the town throughout, from the initial zoning conversations through permitting, helping establish a path that future ADU projects in the municipality can follow.

At a construction cost of $325,000, the project delivered a complete two-bedroom attached ADU: kitchen, full bath, living area, and direct access to the shared backyard. For Sarah, it meant aging in place on the property she’d lived on for six decades. For her daughter’s family, it meant room to grow in the main house. For the municipality, it was proof that building an ADU in a New Jersey suburb can add housing without disrupting neighborhood character.

During construction, neighbors in the cul-de-sac grew curious about the new structure taking shape. It was something different from what they were used to seeing in new construction, and it offered a new way of living altogether.

The Swoop ADU seen from the cul-de-sac through golden autumn maple leaves, with the sun setting behind the trees — The finished ADU on its cul-de-sac, framed by the neighborhood’s mature maples.

Living with it

The Swoop ADU at dusk seen from the backyard, the living area glowing through the sliding doors — From the backyard at dusk: the living area glows through the sliding doors.

Title: Swoop ADU project team - Description: Swoop ADU project team — The Haven team and Sarah on move-in day.

Sarah moved into the Swoop ADU while her daughter’s family settled into the main house. The backyard terrace, shared between both homes, has become the place where the family gathers. Close enough to see each other through the kitchen windows, far enough that everyone has their own front door. It’s multigenerational living on a single suburban lot, each generation with its own space and its own routine.

The Swoop ADU represents the next chapter in Sarah’s life. It also brought new energy to a neighborhood that had remained largely unchanged for decades. The property that held one household for sixty years now holds two, and the split-level that shaped a suburb got a second act.

Why build an attached ADU?

An attached accessory dwelling unit connects directly to the existing home, sharing a wall or, in this case, a garage. Attached ADUs are often more cost-effective than detached units because they can tap into the main house’s utilities and foundation. For families considering multigenerational living or aging in place, an attached configuration keeps everyone on the same property with separate entrances and fully independent living spaces.