Houzz Tour: A Desert House Gets Its Shade From Angled Rooflines
In Paradise Valley, Arizona, this home's soaring roof capture desert views
This Arizona Home’s Soaring Roof Capture Desert Views
When Randy Knight found a 12140 square metres (3 acre) parcel of land with unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain, an iconic landmark that straddles the Arizona cities of Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Scottsdale, he knew he couldn’t build an ordinary home on the desert site. “I knew I wanted something unique and modern,” says Knight, who has built and re-modelled numerous homes over the years. “My only requirement was that the house have no stairs. Other than that, I was open to design ideas.”
When Randy Knight found a 12140 square metres (3 acre) parcel of land with unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain, an iconic landmark that straddles the Arizona cities of Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Scottsdale, he knew he couldn’t build an ordinary home on the desert site. “I knew I wanted something unique and modern,” says Knight, who has built and re-modelled numerous homes over the years. “My only requirement was that the house have no stairs. Other than that, I was open to design ideas.”
The two roof planes, shaped like the prows of ships, bisect each other, creating the home’s distinctive look. The ceilings are clad in vertical-grain Douglas fir, which warms the living spaces below. The wood is set with quarter-inch gaps to create subtle shadows. The metal fascia is detailed with vertical ribbing meant to echo the mineral streaks on the nearby mountain.
“When the light hits the undersides of the roof during certain times of the day,” Kendle notes, “it looks like the underside of a thunderhead during the desert’s summer monsoon season.”
“When the light hits the undersides of the roof during certain times of the day,” Kendle notes, “it looks like the underside of a thunderhead during the desert’s summer monsoon season.”
Off the circular driveway, the front of the home presents a blank face to the street, but reveals its rammed-earth and metal-clad walls, which root the home to the desert site.
Meek faced a few construction challenges. “There was a lot of mixing samples of soil, decomposed granite, cement and water to come up with the correct colour of the rammed-earth walls to complement the site,” he says. “It’s also very labour-intensive, all done by hand. We had to place all the plumbing and wiring in the walls before the mix was tamped down. There’s no going back and making changes in the solid walls.”
Additionally, Meek says, the rammed-earth walls and concrete flooring were completed early in the process and were the finish materials, so they had to be protected while the rest of the construction continued.
Meek faced a few construction challenges. “There was a lot of mixing samples of soil, decomposed granite, cement and water to come up with the correct colour of the rammed-earth walls to complement the site,” he says. “It’s also very labour-intensive, all done by hand. We had to place all the plumbing and wiring in the walls before the mix was tamped down. There’s no going back and making changes in the solid walls.”
Additionally, Meek says, the rammed-earth walls and concrete flooring were completed early in the process and were the finish materials, so they had to be protected while the rest of the construction continued.
A side view looking towards the entrance spotlights the metal cladding on the garage. The ribbing, which casts shadows on the wall, mimics the striations seen in the mountain.
The vertical slot windows on the back wall illuminate a hallway to the guest bedrooms.
This Delhi terrace space uses recycled steel panels as boundary walls
The vertical slot windows on the back wall illuminate a hallway to the guest bedrooms.
This Delhi terrace space uses recycled steel panels as boundary walls
A winglike metal canopy shelters the sandblasted glass entry door. The window to the right offers a peek into the guest bedroom hallway.
Light pours into the entry thanks to the sandblasted glass doors and window walls that allow glimpses of the desert. A Jeremy Thomas sculpture adds a spark of colour to the setting. The flooring throughout the public areas of the home is integrally coloured concrete, with a light terrazzo grind.
An angled slot window in a hallway reveals the separation between two rammed-earth walls, which were sealed inside for dust control.
The detail, says the architect, was inspired by the look of two boulders in the desert, with a sliver of light peeping between.
The detail, says the architect, was inspired by the look of two boulders in the desert, with a sliver of light peeping between.
The home’s four wings flank the atrium. The great room is to the left, which opens up to both the atrium and the pool patio. The entry and guest bedrooms are on the far side. This photograph was taken from the master suite and office.
Landscape architect Shari Zimmerman of GBtwo handled the hardscape and plantings for the atrium, as well as for the rest of the property. In the atrium, a specimen ironwood tree adds a sculptural touch, while the angles of the flooring and rock ground cover echo those of the architecture.
Landscape architect Shari Zimmerman of GBtwo handled the hardscape and plantings for the atrium, as well as for the rest of the property. In the atrium, a specimen ironwood tree adds a sculptural touch, while the angles of the flooring and rock ground cover echo those of the architecture.
The great room, including the kitchen, dining and living areas, opens to the patio and pool, which comes to the edge of the house.
Miller knew the homeowner’s taste and lifestyle, having worked with him on projects since the early 1990s. “Randy Knight likes a casual, easy lifestyle, whether he’s by himself or when his family comes to visit,” Miller says. “On the other hand, this building has such a voice that it was important that the furnishings not compete. The architecture is the star here, and the interiors are the supporting role.”
Miller steered Knight toward simple, comfortable furnishings in a neutral palette, with a few shots of colour coming from art and accessories. The designer suggested textures, finishes and custom millwork that offered an organic, tactile response to the home’s design. “This house doesn’t need a lot of furniture,” the designer notes. “That would be too distracting.”
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Miller knew the homeowner’s taste and lifestyle, having worked with him on projects since the early 1990s. “Randy Knight likes a casual, easy lifestyle, whether he’s by himself or when his family comes to visit,” Miller says. “On the other hand, this building has such a voice that it was important that the furnishings not compete. The architecture is the star here, and the interiors are the supporting role.”
Miller steered Knight toward simple, comfortable furnishings in a neutral palette, with a few shots of colour coming from art and accessories. The designer suggested textures, finishes and custom millwork that offered an organic, tactile response to the home’s design. “This house doesn’t need a lot of furniture,” the designer notes. “That would be too distracting.”
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In the great room, an angled wall frames the two-sided fireplace, which warms the living area and adds interest to the hallway behind it leading to the master suite.
The ceiling, Meek says, angles like origami, with each plane separated by a channel. “We concealed the air-conditioning vents, lighting and window shades in those dark channels,” the builder says. “Everything is hidden.”
The ceiling, Meek says, angles like origami, with each plane separated by a channel. “We concealed the air-conditioning vents, lighting and window shades in those dark channels,” the builder says. “Everything is hidden.”
A comfortable seating area in the great room invites conversation by the fireplace. “The owner is not a formal person,” Miller says. “He wants to have a place where you can put your feet up and not worry about what the grandchildren are doing.”
At the end of the great room, a concrete wall frames the kitchen. The space is designed to disappear and become part of the architecture.
Rusty-orange pillows and bar stools add a spark of colour to the setting.
Rusty-orange pillows and bar stools add a spark of colour to the setting.
Kitchen designer Robert Moric used Bulthaup’s vertical-grain walnut cabinetry to create a monolithic block of back cabinetry that hides the refrigeration system, pullout pantries and more storage. The island, with a stainless steel countertop, includes a cooktop with a retractable downdraft vent system so that no hood is necessary. The doorway to the left behind the cabinetry leads to a butler’s pantry that includes the ovens and additional workspace.
Miller custom-designed the metal ceiling light over the island.
Miller custom-designed the metal ceiling light over the island.
The simple dining space links the kitchen with the living area.
Miller hung a Denise Yaghmourian sculpture made of goose feathers and zip ties in the hallway that leads from the great room to the master suite and office, positioning lighting so it casts shadows on the floor, walls and ceiling.
Kendle placed the master bedroom so that it would have views of Camelback Mountain.
French oak flooring softens the space. The bed is a custom design by Miller.
French oak flooring softens the space. The bed is a custom design by Miller.
An angled corner window in the master bedroom celebrates views of the surrounding desert.
The bed in the master suite anchors to a concrete wall.
In the master bathroom, a black tile-clad freestanding wall holds the shower fixtures on one side and helps frame the soaking tub on the other. The glass wall slides open to a private courtyard to provide an indoor-outdoor experience.
A wood platform elevates the master bath soaking tub. The tub overlooks the private courtyard, which sandblasted glass fencing encircles.
Miller designed the custom floating cabinetry in the master bath and framed it in black tile.
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Here are 7 reasons to choose a floating cabinetry
A sandblasted glass fence provides privacy for the master bath. By night, it glows from light within the house. Conversely, moonlight filters through the glass into the house.
A custom shelving system helps organise the office.
The great room fireplace throws light on the floor in the hallway between the master suite and the office.
One of the guest bedrooms provides a serene welcome for Knight’s adult children and their families when they visit.
The guest bathroom highlights views of the top of Camelback Mountain over the sandblasted glass fencing that surrounds its private courtyard. The floating custom vanity keeps things airy.
Telescoping glass walls create a seamless transition from indoors to out. The pool angles toward the great room and reflects light on the overhangs. The fireplace at the end of the pool also opens to the master bedroom.
The pool placement, Meek says, has unexpected benefits too. “When the glass walls are open, the breeze across the water actually cools the interior.”
The pool placement, Meek says, has unexpected benefits too. “When the glass walls are open, the breeze across the water actually cools the interior.”
Seen at dusk, the back of the house glows amid its desert setting.
Zimmerman revegetated the site after the home’s construction with aloes, agaves and other succulents closer to the house, and augmented the site with native mesquite, palo verde and ironwood trees at the property’s edge to provide more privacy.
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Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Zimmerman revegetated the site after the home’s construction with aloes, agaves and other succulents closer to the house, and augmented the site with native mesquite, palo verde and ironwood trees at the property’s edge to provide more privacy.
Read more:
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Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Randy Knight, who’s in the transportation industry
Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Size: 3 bedrooms; 3½ bathrooms
Design and build team: Brent Kendle (architect), Jerry Meek (builder) and David Michael Miller (interior designer)
For help with the project, Knight called on interior designer David Michael Miller and builder Jerry Meek. They in turn suggested architect Brent Kendle, known for his desert-centric, sculptural residences, to design the home.
Responding to the site, and the fact that Knight was open-minded when it came to architectural approaches, Kendle created a pavilion-like structure of rammed-earth and concrete walls topped with two soaring, angled rooflines that capture views of the mountain.
It’s a dramatic design that also accommodates a casual, comfortable, indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Kendle used telescoping glass walls to open up the back of the house to views of the mountain and the pool patio. The two trapezoidal roof planes, one over the great room and one over the master suite, angle up to both shade the glass and capture views. The larger roof over the great room rests on slender, 18-inch steel posts inset with clerestory windows, creating a pavilion-like effect.
“The roof form is a large, unifying element,” Kendle says. “The home’s open plan takes place under this umbrella. I call this home Dancing Light because of the way sunlight enters the house at all angles and bounces off the roof planes.”