Desert Landscaping Designs & Ideas

Simple, elegant water feature draws attention to the distant view of the mountain.

To amplify the initial impression of the home, Bianchi introduced a sensuous, feminine form by using a of low (but ascending) 30-inch-thick walls. The resulting visual tension and interplay energizes the entry experience as the curving walls juxtapose with the distinctly masculine, ascending planes of the home's facade. Visitors are greeted by the embrace of these walls and led along a path past a trio of rusted steel corten panels that lend a lyrical quality to the pathway with their alternating folds, sequential spacing and ascending heights- echoing botht he pitch and material of the roofline beyond. As the path narrows in the curvature of these walls, there's a sense of compression followed by expansion as the path turns and opens up again as it nears a rusted steep pivot gate, offering access to the forecourt leading to the front door. The notes of this song continue in the shadowy recesses of the cantilevered stair tread detail, and with the striking interjection of tree forms that cast twisting shadows on the imperfectly smooth stucco facing the planar backdrop. michaelwoodall.com

Photo: Nicholas Klein Photography © 2018 Houzz

Mark Boisclair Photography

This “Arizona Inspired” home draws on some of the couples’ favorite desert inspirations. The architecture honors the Wrightian design of The Arizona Biltmore, the courtyard raised planter beds feature labeled specimen cactus in the style of the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the expansive backyard offers a resort-style pool and cabana with plenty of entertainment space. Additional focal areas of landscape design include an outdoor living room in the front courtyard with custom steel fire trough, a shallow negative-edge fountain, and a rare “nurse tree” that was salvaged from a nearby site, sits in the corner of the courtyard – a unique conversation starter. The wash that runs on either side of the museum-glass hallway is filled with aloes, agaves and cactus. On the far end of the lot, a fire pit surrounded by desert planting offers stunning views both day and night of the Praying Monk rock formation on Camelback Mountain. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Builder: GM Hunt Builders Landscape Contractor: Benhart Landscaping Interior Designer: Kitchell Brusnighan Interior Design Photography: Ian Denker

Craftsman style courtyard with natural stone pavers, stone retaining wall, and drought tolerant landscaping. Architect: Urban Design Associates Interiors: Ashley P. Designs Photography: Thompson Photographic

Despite being located in an expansive golf community, the Brown residence celebrates stunning desert views from almost every space. Its careful design makes this possible as views to neighboring houses are edited out focused instead on distant mountains. While the residence presents an unassuming, modest scale to the street, it steps down with the slope of the site allowing the spaces inside to become quite generous. Oversize pivot doors and large expanses of glass allow abundant light and air into these spaces while broad overhangs and shading devices protect them from the harsh desert sun. awards 2011 - Texas Society of Architects / AIA Design Award 2010 - AIA San Antonio Merit Award Architecture: Lake/Flato Architects Contractor: the construction zone, ltd. Photography: Bill Timmerman

Aloe Ferox in the background, Penstemon, Verbena and Desert Marigold in the foreground. A great attraction for the Humming birds. Pascale Sucato

Courtyard fountain, landscaping, and exterior.