Dust Architects Tucson Mountain Retreat
Description
212 E Broadway Blvd Tucson, AZ 85701 studio@dustarchitects.com 520-329-5030 Instagram The Tucson Mountain Retreat shares over 900 feet of its perimeter with the pristine expanse of Saguaro National Park, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert landscape with its endless stretch of towering Saguaro Cacti. It is an extremely rugged, lush, and fragile land that exudes a sense of stillness and permanency, and beckons an architecture carefully situated in and shaped by the soft rhythms of this land. Tucson Mountain Retreat, an experiential rammed earth residence, approaches the Sonoran Desert with reverence, defined by a desire to share – not exploit – the gifts of this unspoiled location. The soft tones and rich texture of rammed earth mark a simple program that opens up to the landscape generously, while circulation through the spaces folds the landscape in with the program. 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. The clients, a San Diego doctor and his wife, were led to this site with a dream of reconnecting their roots to this magical and mysterious landscape, coupled with a desire to indulge in a love of music as lifestyle. Simple functional requirements for living, sleeping, and a live music studio suggested a unique design strategy, which places an emphasis on clear separation of each function to offer the desired site integration and sound isolation. Arrival is marked by a sequence of fractal concrete cubes that offer an open-ended path toward two separate entries: midway up the ascent, a narrow slit marks the bedroom entry, while a dark square void defines the main entry. Rammed earth walls weave through the plan, dissecting it into three zones and imprinting the home with a warm texture and massive weight that can be felt and heard. The living space, open to both the north and south, is the heart of the home, also acting as a barrier between the music studio to its west and the bedrooms to the east.
Details
Tucson, AZ
Year: 2012
Architect
Photography
Jeff Goldberg, ESTO Bill Timmerman
Description
212 E Broadway Blvd Tucson, AZ 85701 studio@dustarchitects.com 520-329-5030 Instagram The Tucson Mountain Retreat shares over 900 feet of its perimeter with the pristine expanse of Saguaro National Park, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert landscape with its endless stretch of towering Saguaro Cacti. It is an extremely rugged, lush, and fragile land that exudes a sense of stillness and permanency, and beckons an architecture carefully situated in and shaped by the soft rhythms of this land. Tucson Mountain Retreat, an experiential rammed earth residence, approaches the Sonoran Desert with reverence, defined by a desire to share – not exploit – the gifts of this unspoiled location. The soft tones and rich texture of rammed earth mark a simple program that opens up to the landscape generously, while circulation through the spaces folds the landscape in with the program. 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. The clients, a San Diego doctor and his wife, were led to this site with a dream of reconnecting their roots to this magical and mysterious landscape, coupled with a desire to indulge in a love of music as lifestyle. Simple functional requirements for living, sleeping, and a live music studio suggested a unique design strategy, which places an emphasis on clear separation of each function to offer the desired site integration and sound isolation. Arrival is marked by a sequence of fractal concrete cubes that offer an open-ended path toward two separate entries: midway up the ascent, a narrow slit marks the bedroom entry, while a dark square void defines the main entry. Rammed earth walls weave through the plan, dissecting it into three zones and imprinting the home with a warm texture and massive weight that can be felt and heard. The living space, open to both the north and south, is the heart of the home, also acting as a barrier between the music studio to its west and the bedrooms to the east.
Details
Tucson, AZ
Year: 2012
Architect
Photography
Jeff Goldberg, ESTO Bill Timmerman
