Desert architecture

Providing a sense of calm and refuge in balance with the landscape and sky, this 4,300 square-foot home in Bend, Oregon is designed as a regular weekend getaway for a couple and their extended family. The house by architecture practice Hacker draws on the natural forms, colours and textures of the surrounding landscape which includes volcanic cinder cones, lava flows, and jagged mountains. Jeremy Bittermann The exterior palette of cedar, steel, and glass asserts a bold presence in the landscape with simple, shifting exterior plans. From afar, the cedar cladding that wraps the house appears monolithic. From up close, variations and natural imperfections in the wood reveal an organized pattern in tune with the rugged surrounding environ... Más

In Palm Springs, California, the Ridge Mountain House by EYRC Architects arises from the austere beauty of the desert landscape. With colossal views over the Coachella Valley to the east, the tranquil weekend home harmonizes with the colours and rhythms of the land. Joe Fletcher Embedded into a craggy hill, the ground floor of the houses comprises two cast-in-place concrete volumes with 12 ft ceilings. The smaller volume contains a den and service spaces while the larger volume includes a main living area, kitchen and dining room. A pure square in form, the larger volume includes a glass wall that opens up completely to a large deck with an infinity pool. Lance Gerber The two volumes are separated by a double volume light-filled... Más