Big glass brings desert vistas inside Paradise Valley home
Spectacular views abound in north Phoenix neighborhoods, but one property by K2 Signature Homes offers an especially awe-inspiring smorgasbord of eye candy, thanks to its location and the builder’s incorporation of numerous moving glass walls and windows that provide panoramic views of the surrounding sierra.
Nestled on Hummingbird Lane and cradling the slope of Mummy Mountain, the 6,200-square-foot home is slightly elevated and offers views of the nearby McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Pinnacle Peak and Superstition Mountains.
K2 Signature Homes principal Tom Knutson says big glass played a big role in the design of the home from the very beginning. “Our goal was to create a modern home using an organic palette of materials – natural wood tones, exposed cast-in-place concrete with a sandblasted finish, white stucco and interior walls, black metal accents, and of course, lots of glass to take in the fantastic views of the natural, Sonoran-desert setting,” Knutson says. “This home has roots in mid-century modern architecture but also takes advantage of advances in engineering and technology.”
Thermally broken aluminum frames and high-quality low-E glass, like those used in the Series 600 Window Wall, provide the best thermal performance, Knutson says. “Air tightness is also an often-overlooked component of energy efficiency. We used a fluid, applied air and weather barrier as well as extra upgrades at the sill plate and penetrations to achieve a blower door test score of .98 ACH50. That’s five times better than code requires!” Knutson exclaims. “We consider this a badge of honor, especially considering how much glass was used in the home.”
One of Knutson’s favorite parts of the home is the Series 600 Multi-Slide Door. “The 30-foot automated multi-slide door always gets lots of attention,” he says. “It truly connects the main living space of the home to the outdoors. Everyone loves watching the door open and close with the touch of a button or mobile device.”
In addition to bringing the outdoors inside, Western Window Systems products also helped K2 Signature Homes achieve its energy efficiency goals for the Hummingbird Lane house. “We wanted the home to feel warm and approachable.” Knutson says. “We also set out to create a home that is energy-efficient, healthy, comfortable, and durable, so that the home is truly enjoyable from a wholistic perspective.”
All the glass in the Hummingbird Lane house gives it permanent appeal, according to Knutson: “The incredible mountain views will never get old.”
