Desert architecture

Perched high above the Arizona desert, Paradise Valley transforms its steep hillside site into a bold architectural composition that follows the contours of the landscape, and opens its multi-layered design towards the valley below. A modern courtyard at the entrance with seating and a water vapor feature provides an atmospheric transition from the street to the private spaces. More than somewhere to quickly pass through, this open air gathering space invites a moment of pause before entering and exiting the property.   Once inside, the 7,300-square-foot design opens up into a dramatic living space with sweeping views across the desert. Anchored by a double-height stone fireplace, the great room is the heart of the home, connecting t... More

Located in the prestigious Camelback Mountain area, the Camelback Residences at the Ascent at the Phoenician sets a new standard for high-end luxury living. This exclusive condominium development in Scottsdale, AZ, USA, designed by Nelson Partners and developed by Replay Destinations, features stunning views and unparalleled access to the Foothills Trailhead. With spacious units exceeding 2,000 square feet, these condos represent the pinnacle of modern elegance. Layton Construction was the general contractor, while Jet Industries executed the HVAC and plumbing work. Render courtesy of Ascent at the Phoenician The Ascent at the Phoenician offers an unmatched living experience with world-class amenities designed to complement its presti... More

The Architect’s Newspaper 2021 Best of Design Award in the Unbuilt Cultural ProjectWinner. This project envisions a new typology in the American West by pairing the leisure activities of a bathhouse with the utilitarian functions of a data center. Why not capitalize on the wasted heat? Located near a resort, Pink Thermal Baths is the new destination getaway to recharge your body and soul. FORMA Architects PLLC FORMA Architects PLLC Like the ephemerality of the global data flows, the center is fully subterranean and hidden from sight. All the visual, auditory, and olfactory experiences are concentrated within the exuberant colorful interiors of the square bathhouse. The excess heat from the servers is dispersed into the pool... More

DVS 03 is a new sector within the Villa Serena apartment complex, located in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo The development is located within an existing complex made up of low-rise brick apartment buildings surrounded by common areas, gardens, gym, pool and other amenities. The meticulous study of the site and the analysis of the axes of the original buildings were the starting point in the design process to create direct relationships between the new sector and the pre-existing environment. Rafael Gamo Rafael Gamo DVS 03 comprises two buildings with 33 unique one and two bedroom apartments. The apartments have an exterior perimeter made up of balconies and terraces which provide much... More

The origin of the design idea behind this home was to create both privacy and openness. The home is nestled into a four+ acre lot that overlooks Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, AZ. We created an oasis, with lots of water features. For example, the negative-edge pool doesn’t face outwards; it faces the home so it’s like having a waterfall in your yard. Additional water features are introduced for a cooling effect. Rammed-earth walls – compressed earth mix with cement – create a cool, earthy looking wall. The home has lots of plants, garden areas and open doors. What makes it unique is that it's a glass house with privacy. We sunk the house into the terrain so it’s earth sheltered in a way. JMAD JMAD JM... More

The unique program of this public library is based on contemporary bookstore concepts and includes a popular library with a 120,000-volume collection, as well as a coffee bar and bookstore elements. The program also includes a children’s program room, two multipurpose rooms, computer training center, and a dedicated teen area. Bill Timmerman Bill Timmerman The building is a remembrance of the desert slot canyons of northern Arizona and Monument Valley, capturing the powerful and unique experience between the compressive stone walls and the ultimate release to the sky above. Ever-patient threads of water, sculpting and polishing the massive walls, cut these natural sandstone canyons over millennia. Harder stone and slow wate... More

In the sun-kissed embrace of Paradise Valley, Arizona sits “Mockingbird,” a low slung courtyard style home designed by the architecture firm The Ranch Mine. The design elevates the spirit of its surroundings while breaking down the barriers between indoor and outdoor living, creating a home where the arid beauty of the desert meets the sophistication of modern living.  Dan Ryan Studio Dan Ryan Studio Dan Ryan Studio Dan Ryan Studio As you approach the house, the first thing that captures the eye is the striking interplay of metal fins that adorn the exterior. Inspired by the spindly and resilient ocotillo plants scattered across the desert landscape, these fins create a dynamic visual texture while prov... More

The desert is open space and long views, but also the close-up, detailed perfection of the cactus flower. It is nature’s serene minimalism. This is the setting for our project inside the gated community of The Vintage in Indian Wells, California. William MacCollum This project involved deep creative collaboration with the clients, who partnered with architect Marc Whipple and the W^R team on every aspect of the interior design, and personally curated or co-designed each of the many art pieces throughout the house. With a passion for racing and cars, and also for collecting fine wines, the program was going to include dazzling and innovative displays that would be both highly visible and striking artistic statements. This house... More

William MacCollum   This project was built adjacent to the Mountain Course in the Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, California, in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The design of the central living space has formed a theatrical proscenium, framing the desertscape scene of mountains, trees, and sky. William MacCollum   Our client visited the desert frequently growing up, and always wanted a house there. In addition to an indoor/outdoor open feeling, he wanted to see water from every vantage point in the house.   “This is why we not only have the backyard patio that pockets neatly into the fireplace and kitchen, but have created the entryway courtyard, which is really a very large pond. From anywhe... More

The project begins by placing a vertical plane within the vast openness of the desert; a simple element that, rather than asserting a fixed presence, continuously transforms in relation to the landscape, light, and the observer’s position. At times, the plane appears as an independent, dark object; at others, it captures the image of the ground and sky, and in certain moments, through the reflection of light, it loses the boundary between itself and its surroundings. The work emerges through this constant transition between presence and disappearance. As the observer moves, not only does the image of the plane change, but their relationship with the expansive desert is transformed as well. The circle traced on the ground does not def... More