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Tucson Mountain Retreat

DUST

Tucson, Arizona, United States

© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

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This rammed-earth dwelling is located in an arid expanse of land that emits a sense of stillness and permanence. It holds mysteries of magical proportions. The home is carefully sited in response to the adjacent arroyos, rock outcroppings, ancient cacti, animal migration paths, air movement, sun exposure, and views. Great effort was invested to minimize the physical impact of the home in such a fragile environment. Rooted in the desert, where water is always scarce, the design incorporates a generous 30,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system with an advanced filtration device that produces the most precious resource available for all household uses.

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Site plan

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Parking is intentionally isolated from the house. From there, one must walk along a narrow footpath, passing through a dense clustered area of cacti and Palo Verde that obscures direct views of the home. Upon each progressive footstep, the house slowly reveals itself, as if rising out of the ground.

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Roof deck plan

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Ground-floor plan

A. 

Entry 

B. 

Kitchen 

C. 

Dining area 

D. 

Living area 

E. 

Pantry 

F. 

Control booth 

G. 

Vocal booth 

H. 

Music studio 

I. 

Bedroom 

J. 

Roof deck 

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Building section

The program of the home is divided into three distinct and isolated zones: living, sleeping, and music recording/home entertainment. Each zone can only be accessed by stepping outside. This separation resolves the clients’ desired acoustic separation, while offering an opportunity for continual experiencing the desert landscape.

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The entry sequence, a series of playfully engaging concrete steps, dissolves into the desert, merging nature and construction.


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The main living area and the sleeping spaces extend into south-facing patios that offer views and access to the Sonoran Desert. Deep overhangs provide shelter from the high summer sun, while allowing low winter sunlight to passively heat the interior.


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Climatic conditions must drive the architecture, including form, layout, type of construction, and details, in order to achieve comfortable living spaces.


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004

Solar heat gain is reduced by orienting the house in a linear fashion along an east-west axis, and by minimizing door and window openings in the narrow east and west facades, creating comfortable spaces where light and temperature can be controlled.


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A perforated steel staircase leads to the roof terrace. The space that contains it is dark and boasts a mysterious atmosphere that encourages contemplation. The harsh desert light from above filters through the perforated steel, as if slowly consuming it.