Despite being located in an expansive golf community, the Brown residence celebrates stunning desert views from almost every space. Its careful design makes this possible as views to neighboring houses are edited out focused instead on distant mountains. While the residence presents an unassuming, modest scale to the street, it steps down with the slope of the site allowing the spaces inside to become quite generous. Oversize pivot doors and large expanses of glass allow abundant light and air into these spaces while broad overhangs and shading devices protect them from the harsh desert sun. awards 2011 - Texas Society of Architects / AIA Design Award 2010 - AIA San Antonio Merit Award Architecture: Lake/Flato Architects Contractor: the construction zone, ltd. Photography: Bill Timmerman

Nancy Erdmann
This is an example of a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Embracing the organic, wild aesthetic of the Arizona desert, this home offers thoughtful landscape architecture that enhances the native palette without a single irrigation drip line. Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Clint Miller Architect Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Steve Thompson

Big-tooth Maple / Acer gradidentatum
Photo of a landscaping in Other.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

Nancy Erdmann
Inspiration for a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

This “Arizona Inspired” home draws on some of the couples’ favorite desert inspirations. The architecture honors the Wrightian design of The Arizona Biltmore, the courtyard raised planter beds feature labeled specimen cactus in the style of the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the expansive backyard offers a resort-style pool and cabana with plenty of entertainment space. Additional focal areas of landscape design include an outdoor living room in the front courtyard with custom steel fire trough, a shallow negative-edge fountain, and a rare “nurse tree” that was salvaged from a nearby site, sits in the corner of the courtyard – a unique conversation starter. The wash that runs on either side of the museum-glass hallway is filled with aloes, agaves and cactus. On the far end of the lot, a fire pit surrounded by desert planting offers stunning views both day and night of the Praying Monk rock formation on Camelback Mountain. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Builder: GM Hunt Builders Landscape Contractor: Benhart Landscaping Interior Designer: Kitchell Brusnighan Interior Design

This “Arizona Inspired” home draws on some of the couples’ favorite desert inspirations. The architecture honors the Wrightian design of The Arizona Biltmore, the courtyard raised planter beds feature labeled specimen cactus in the style of the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the expansive backyard offers a resort-style pool and cabana with plenty of entertainment space. Additional focal areas of landscape design include an outdoor living room in the front courtyard with custom steel fire trough, a shallow negative-edge fountain, and a rare “nurse tree” that was salvaged from a nearby site, sits in the corner of the courtyard – a unique conversation starter. The wash that runs on either side of the museum-glass hallway is filled with aloes, agaves and cactus. On the far end of the lot, a fire pit surrounded by desert planting offers stunning views both day and night of the Praying Monk rock formation on Camelback Mountain. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Builder: GM Hunt Builders Landscape Contractor: Benhart Landscaping Interior Designer: Kitchell Brusnighan Interior Design Photography: Chris Loomis

An artificial turf lawn in the backyard gives the perfect green foreground to the golf course views behind the lot. Raised planters built around integrated boulders give vertical interest to the yard. Photos by Meagan Hancock

Pascale Sucato
This is an example of a large southwestern partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Phoenix for spring.

SONORAN GARDENS PHOTO CREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A NEW VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT RESIDENCE LOCATED HIGH ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR ON PUSCH RIDGE, IN ORO VALLEY, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE HIGHLIGHTS ACCENT PLANTS IN WHICH THE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE COMES ALIVE WITH FABULOUS BLOOMS AND YEAR AROUND COLOR USING SUSTAINABLE NATIVE PLANTS. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND CREATES A DIALOGUE WITH THE OUTSTANDING DESERT VIEWS BEYOND THE WALLS. THIS LANDSCAPE WILL BE FEATURED IN THE GARDEN CONSERVENCY TOUR ON OCTOBER 5, 2013.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.

WWW.BOXHILLDESIGN.COM WWW.SHOPBOXHILL.COM photos by emily jones
Inspiration for a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Photo of a large southwestern gravel landscaping in Phoenix.

SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA PHOTOCREDIT SHELLY ANN ABBOTT, MLA, A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CREATED A UNIQUE VISION WHEN SHE DESIGNED THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS SONORAN DESERT LANDSCAPE IN COYOTE CREEK LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, JUST OUTSIDE TUCSON, AZ. THIS LANDSCAPE DESIGN WELCOMES VISITORS INTO THE COURTYARD AND PATIOS USING AN EXCLUSIVE PLANT PALETTE THAT IS BOTH COLORFUL AND SUSTAINABLE. THIS LANDSCAPE NOW HAS A SENSE OF PLACE IN OUR SONORAN DESERT, AND PROVIDES HABITAT AND FOOD FOR THE NATIVE DESERT WILDLIFE.