A remarkably subdued house when viewed from the public way is transformed into a dynamic contemporary composition from within the site boundaries. The distinction between indoors and outdoors is blurred as living spaces expand into the landscape through floor to ceiling butt-glazed window walls. Protected view corridors extend to Camelback Mountain from virtually every living space and from many of the outdoor patio zones. In each case, the viewer is screened from intense light and glare by masonry spine walls and sweeping roof overhangs. In this residence, the outdoor spaces receive as much activity and occupation as the interior zones. Materials, including wood, steel, concrete and masonry, are exposed in their natural state. Nothing attempts to be what it is not. Venetian plaster and gyp-board walls create a colorful backdrop for the owner’s contemporary furniture and fittings. The overall effect is a warm and highly textured palette of natural and man-made materials acting as a backdrop and container of human activities. In this house, the frenetic movements of young children and the more restrained activities of adults co-exist in a symbiotic balance. There is an equity of use in the living spaces and the zoning necessary for each occupant to find privacy or respite in their own zone.


















Best House Design