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Houzz Tour: A Glass House Harmonizes With the Desert
An expert collaboration results in a home designed to celebrate sun and shade, with plenty of ways to soak in the views
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
This striking pavilion of glass and steel emerges from a desert landscape, making the most of its views and light while protecting its inhabitants from the blazing sun. Designed by Lake Flato Architects, the house uses large panels of glass to let in the views, provides inviting spaces for outdoor living and has a system of overhangs and shades that shield it from the sun. Lake Flato enlisted The Construction Zone to build this custom design for a golf- and desert-loving couple from Texas. Sit back and take a tour with Construction Zone founder Andy Byrnes, who oversaw the construction.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A golf-loving couple
Location: Desert Mountain, Arizona (near Scottsdale)
Size: About 4,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A golf-loving couple
Location: Desert Mountain, Arizona (near Scottsdale)
Size: About 4,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
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| This part of Arizona, Desert Mountain, enjoys cooler temperatures, which equals much more time spent outside in all three seasons than in other parts of the state. The landscape contains a sequence of several outdoor rooms, designed for lounging, eating, swimming and enjoying a fire on chilly nights. The spaces relate to the house via physical and visual connections and materials. On this outdoor patio, a steel staircase, exposed concrete and flagstones relate back to the house via texture and color. Logs for the fire pit are cleverly stored beneath a sidewalk. To the right, there's a grill and another patio with a dining area. |
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| The architects oriented the windows so that the owners could take in the desert and the mountains, while editing neighboring homes from view. |
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| The home consists of four buildings: the main house, the garage, the guest suite and the office. Large windows maximize natural light inside, while large overhangs protect the interior from the desert sun. The overhangs and the pathways create connections between the separate buildings, making them all part of a whole. |
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The main house is a glass pavilion. To the left of it is a home office building; the breezeway seen at the edge of the picture connects to a guest pavilion.
"Sustainability is very important to both Lake Flato and Construction Zone," says Byrnes. "A big part of that is using local materials. We sourced at least 90 percent of the materials used on this project locally." For example, he sourced the mesquite for the flooring and the floating accent wall in the living room from nearby Tucson.
"Other sustainable elements of the home include the tight envelope, high-efficiency systems, light control systems, and overhangs that shade the home from direct sunlight and work in concert with large windows that make the most of the natural light," says Byrnes. Clerestory windows connect the rooms to the outside and spread natural light from room to room.
"Sustainability is very important to both Lake Flato and Construction Zone," says Byrnes. "A big part of that is using local materials. We sourced at least 90 percent of the materials used on this project locally." For example, he sourced the mesquite for the flooring and the floating accent wall in the living room from nearby Tucson.
"Other sustainable elements of the home include the tight envelope, high-efficiency systems, light control systems, and overhangs that shade the home from direct sunlight and work in concert with large windows that make the most of the natural light," says Byrnes. Clerestory windows connect the rooms to the outside and spread natural light from room to room.
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The house easily transforms into an open-air pavilion. Large custom pivot doors have a minimalist aesthetic. When they're closed, the line between inside and out is difficult to see; when they're open, the line completely disappears.
The open-air spirit continues throughout the interior. Walls float, with spaces left open above and below. This strategy lends proportion and division to the spaces, while light and air circulate from one room to the next.
The open-air spirit continues throughout the interior. Walls float, with spaces left open above and below. This strategy lends proportion and division to the spaces, while light and air circulate from one room to the next.
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| Lofty ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass allow soaring views of the landscape from almost everywhere inside the home. All the furniture and even the walls point your eye to the view; this shot looks almost like a one-point perspective drawing with a distant cactus as the center point. |
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| As for the logistics of constructing such a home, hiring experienced local builders to execute a design is usually a good plan; they know the local craftspeople, resources and climate issues. "We used hot-rolled steel all around the project; in our dry climate, we don't need to use weathering Cor-Ten steel," says Byrnes. |
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| The rusted steel around the pool helps it blend into its desert surroundings and connects it to the architecture; look at the way it relates to the overhang in this photo. If you look closely at the pool, you can see a separate hot tub area on the right side, which is hidden beneath 1/2 inch or so of water. This way the plunge pool and the spa appear as one simple rectangular element, which is in keeping with the home's minimalist aesthetic. |
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| All of the furnishings are in harmony with the house. While you may see an icon here and there, most of the pieces have lines and colors that blend in and enhance, rather than compete with, the spectacular views. "Much of the furniture inside was custom designed by Lake Flato and built by Construction Zone, such as this nightstand/headboard/platform bed," says Byrnes. "While a large part of our business is building our own designs, working in the role as contractor with amazing architects like these was a great experience." More: Houzz Tour: Open Living in the Arizona Desert |
Comments
michelleann1 Now THAT is my kinda house!
8 months ago · Like
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midmodfan I'm envious *sigh*. Beautiful inside and out, including the exceptional landscaping. Definitely on my top five list here. Thanks for sharing.
8 months ago · Like
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mjdarts This is perfection! Kudos to Lake/Flato and Construction Zone.
8 months ago · Like
jacinnm I like the log storage, great place for mice and snakes.
8 months ago · Like
loishapi EXQUISITE. Love it ALL down to the continuity in the master with the harmonizing expanse of furnishings and elements. The eyes just roll fluidly to the landscape.
8 months ago · Like
trasgorshek Absolutely stunning! Would love to see a sunset there!! Beautiful art inside as well!
8 months ago · Like
rachelsmac I've been pulling images for inspiration for our house in the vineyard/desert land of Eastern WA, and just realized so many of them were from the same house! It's really fantastic. I love these steel window walls, but I am concerned about insulation. Our site gets very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Does the Desert Mountain area get cold enough that this was a factor in your specs? And, can you tell me the window manufacturer?
8 months ago · Like
flopsycat1 Beautiful house! However, I live about a mile or two from Desert Mountain and, with our snakes, scorpions and tarantulas would never opt for an open-air room. And , for much of the year, we have extreme heat, not to mention the dust and sand which are constants in desert living. We have floor to ceiling glass sliders- we keep them closed!
8 months ago · Like
marmarmish Beautiful, yes. Sustainable - c'mon! Where does the water for the big pool and verdant lawns come from?!
8 months ago · Like
Becky Harris The grass you see in the landscape is an adjacent golf course, it is not a lawn on the property.
8 months ago · Like
ferpla Beautiful home from a very talented office. I do have to agree with marmarmish; it doesn't seem that sustainable. 4400 sq. ft is not McMansion but is still at least double what 2 people need.
8 months ago · Like
perezfam Perfection! Love the shed roof lines with deep overhangs. Rachelsmac, I also am searching for inspiration photos for our Eastern WA vineyard/desert remodel. May be we should compare notes :)
8 months ago · Like
rachelsmac @Perezfam: well, if you are looking at this house, we probably have the same style in mind. It seems so well-suited to that environment. We are looking at the Red Mountain area just west of Richland. I've started 'following' you!
8 months ago · Like
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Windsol Alternative Power The window in the master bedroom gives you an impression of a hanging picture on the wall, specially with the three pot lights from above.... Love every bit of this house... thanks for sharing.
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Sept. 29, 2012.
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