The Tucson Mountain Retreat shares more than 900 feet of its boundary with the pristine expanse of Saguaro National Park, nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert landscape, adorned with a continuous stretch of majestic Saguaro Cacti.
Project Name: Tucson Mountain Retreat
Studio Name: DUST
Completion Date: June 2012
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Gross Sq. Ft.: 3640 Gross Sq. Ft. Conditioned
Photography: Bill Timmerman, Phoenix Arizona
This rugged, lush, and delicate terrain emanates a profound sense of stillness and permanence, calling for an architecture thoughtfully positioned within and shaped by the gentle rhythms of this land.
Crafted as an experiential rammed earth residence, the Tucson Mountain Retreat approaches the Sonoran Desert with deep respect, driven by a commitment to share rather than exploit the treasures of this unspoiled location. The subdued hues and luxurious texture of rammed earth define a straightforward design that generously opens itself to the landscape. The circulation within the spaces seamlessly integrates the landscape with the program, inviting the ever-changing desert light and the backdrop of the living desert landscape to coexist harmoniously with the residents, becoming intrinsic and intimate companions in the home’s life experiences.
The clients, a San Diego doctor and his wife, were drawn to this site with a vision of reconnecting their roots to the enchanting and enigmatic landscape while indulging in their love for music as a lifestyle. The design strategy, influenced by simple and functional living, sleeping, and a live music studio, prioritizes a clear separation of each function to achieve desired site integration and sound isolation.
The entrance experience unfolds through a series of fractal concrete cubes, guiding towards two distinct entries: midway up the ascent, a narrow-slit denotes the bedroom entry, while a dark square void marks the main entrance. Rammed earth walls intricately weave through the plan, dividing it into three zones and imparting a warm texture and substantial presence that can be sensed and heard. The living space, open to both the north and south, serves as the heart of the home, acting as a buffer between the music studio to the west and the bedrooms to the east.
The home’s tactile connection to its surroundings is manifested in every detail. The fragrance of Spanish cedar permeates the bedrooms, while charred walls enclosing the bathroom core invite tactile engagement and evoke visual references to a drought-ridden desert floor. Exterior passages lead to each programmatic function, encouraging an active engagement with the desert environment. The permeability of the design is further accentuated by dappled light filtering beneath a spiral stair that ascends to a panoramic roof deck for stargazing. When the expansive glass panels separating the home from the desert are fully opened, the residence embodies a limitless Ramada-like spirit, animated by the ever-changing desert, its light, and scent.
