Desert House

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

A university project (the client was on the advisory committee) impressed her with our adaptive reuse of a concrete brut museum. The client looked to us to design both a home and great daylit gallery.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

In collaboration with the client, we walked the site. A cardboard study model of the site was created showing topography, the native pinion and grasses. Loose blocks of buildings were moved on the site and placed with the rooms opening to the client’s favorite views and places on the land.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

The completed project is strikingly similar to the early concept.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

Passive solar measures were utilized. Glazing was oriented to minimize heat gain in summer with east/west oriented bars of mass walls and radiant concrete floors to maximize winter heat. Earth sheltering was accomplished by digging into the hillside. East and west portales (porches) filter the low hot sun. Local sourced materials within a 200 mile radius were utilized. The radiant slab tempers the house in all seasons augmented by forced air all systems were computer controlled for minimal energy use. The glazing-to-solid-wall ratio is 28%.

How would you describe the architecture of New Mexico and how does the building relate to it?

Eighteenth Century New Mexico haciendas feature a succession of courtyards walled in by narrow east/west buildings. This modern hacienda creates a calm oasis. Portales (porches) filter the low east and west sun. The low profile of the walls similarly recalls the low scale of early Anasazi buildings. The lightweight roof hovers above the heavy mass walls supported by clerestory glass and expressed steel structure. The passive solar design features mass walls that absorb solar heat or night time cooling depending on the season. The percentage and orientation of the glazing is dependent on maximizing daylight and minimizing heat gain in the summer. The long unbroken walls feature minimal punched openings recalling the early vernacular buildings.  

Email interview conducted by John Hill.