Hidden Valley Desert House is a modest home situated on a south-facing slope in Cave Creek, Arizona. The design responds to the hillside site by extending a linear plinth that follows the contour lines running east to west. This elevated platform is constructed from pinkish-red schist-shale present on site, grounding the house within the local geology. The brief called for a highly efficient residence capable of supporting carbon neutral living in the desert climate.
A sizeable canopy hovers over the plinth, forming the house’s principal shelter and shade. This thickened canopy is engineered to harvest solar energy and some rainwater, and it incorporates the mechanical systems needed for the home’s sustainability goals. The canopy is supported by a cluster of mass elements at the edges, which both minimize the use of glass and selectively frame outward views. The western end of the plinth is treated as a solid, inhabitable volume reminiscent of a cave, while the main floor remains open on all sides, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior.
