Out of Line's 'absent gable' ADU breaks New Jersey suburbia's monotony

Out of Line, a Brooklyn-based studio, has finalized the Swoop ADU, a 750-square-foot accessory dwelling unit linked to a split-level residence from 1988 in South Orange, New Jersey. Instead of mimicking the common gabled roofs in the area, the design features an inverted form with a negative gable-shaped entrance. Finished in 2025, this ADU introduces two bedrooms and a bathroom, allowing a homeowner to live independently near her daughter's family. Established in 2021 by Danielle Kemble and Sevki Topcu, the studio harmonized the existing home and the new addition by replacing the original brick veneer with charcoal grey stucco and light grey fibre cement panels. The diagonal butterfly roof appears flat from the street but slopes from the side. Influences from Ellsworth Kelly and Robert Mangold are evident in the design's emphasis on reduction and seamless materials. A small upper terrace links the ADU to the primary house, while the living room boasts a 14-foot ceiling, a large picture window, and a glass patio door leading to the garden. The kitchen features Reform cabinetry, grey terrazzo countertops, and a circular window overlooking the cul-de-sac. This marks the first ADU in the neighborhood, disrupting the monotony of a developer-built cul-de-sac filled with similar homes. Photography by Rafael Gamo.