Ascending with the natural rock formations this heavy mass attempts to exemplify the significance of the desert landscape in comparison to human form – insignificant by terms of scale. Using forced perspective with both void and shape the user is driven through an artificial canyon, designed to build tension before the release of entry.
PROJECT DATE: PROJECTED 2024
PROJECT SIZE: 2500 SF
SITE: YUCCA VALLEY, CA DESERT HILLSIDE
PROGRAM: SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (4BR / 5 BA)
DESIGN INTENT: INTEGRATION
Upon entering the home, punctures sit on opposing sides of the circulation, allowing for relief, views and cross ventilation. Deep overhangs and solid walls mimic the heaviness of the boulders surrounding the home and provide shading, and thermal heating and cooling for the space. The form engulfs the hillside, weaving between the rocks with curated views from each public and private space.
The home’s triangular shape maximizes the site’s natural features while creating a sustainable site design feature on each directional facade:
WEST: The largest and most exposed wall takes shelter behind high boulders, blocking hot winds throughout the day and providing natural landscape views for the bedrooms and common spaces.
NORTH: Solid walls serve as a thermal mass, taking advantage of the extreme temperature fluctuations throughout the day. The desert climate allows for passive cooling during the day, and passive heating at night.
EAST: The pool provides an evaporative cooling effect within the courtyard, amplified by the cross ventilation provided by operable windows on the home’s east facade.
