Hidden amongst the Saguaro Cacti and sand dunes of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, exuding the ultimate sense of stillness and permeancy, lies DUST’s Tucson Mountain Retreat. Approaching the desert with reverence and designed to utilise the land’s natural materials, textures and beauty, ‘the home invites the constantly shifting desert light and the backdrop of the living desert landscape to holistically inhabit the space alongside the residents, becoming integral and intimate partners in the life experiences of the home.’

Upon arriving, a collection of fractal concrete cubes are scattered to present an open-ended path to two entrances. The main entrance dramatically leads into the home, defined by a dark square void, while a less obvious narrow slit acts as a second, almost hidden entry into the bedroom. Placements of grand floor-to-ceiling sliding doors across the home beautifully blend interior and exterior to become one. As the studio notes, ‘when the large glass panels that separate the home from desert fully opened, the residence evokes a boundless Ramada-like spirit, animated by the ever-changing desert, its light and scent.’ 

The living, sleeping and further entertainment zones are effortlessly separated in a unique and clever design strategy. Rammed earth walls separate the home into three distinct zones where the living space sits at the heart of the home and acts as the barrier between the music studio on its west side and the bedrooms on the east. 

dustdb.com 

Image Credits @ Bill Timmerman