Joshua Tree Residence R#250
Joshua Tree Residence is a luxury residence situated between Mummy Mountain and Camelback Mountain. The form of the house is shaped by its surroundings, mirroring the terrain between the two mountains and the shape of the prominent wash on the property. This form is also ideal for the organization of the house, with a spacious public great room that is literally open to the views and outside spaces nestled between the two larger and solid private volumes. Large bedrooms and private baths ensure comfort and an airy sense of space. Private wings wrapping the central public space create quiet private retreats without sacrificing views or a feeling of connection to the rest of the house.
As one enters, a contrasting floor pattern draws the eye and body through the open central volume and over the negative edge of the pool terrace toward the mountain. The panels in the south wall of the great room slide away to open and connect the interior with the exterior, taking advantage of the fair climate and panoramic vistas. The floor remains level with the exterior deck and water, creating one plane that falls into the desert at the negative edge of the pool.
Process
The future residents of the house are a professional couple and one elderly parent with a caretaker. The house is designed not only as a comfortable desert residence but also as a stage for their collection of modern sculptures, combining architectural design with art. The same design ideas that accommodate the sculptures work for the sculptural furniture and even the collection of cars kept in the show-room quality garages. The house itself also incorporates the ideas of sculpture in a few places, like the stairway leading to the western master suite which is reminiscent of a slot canyon.
The residence is position at the end of the wash running through the property, utilizing the topography to give the impression that the house is at a higher elevation further up the hill. The wash also acts as an ideal backdrop for the negative edge pool and as an interesting landscape feature in general that can be enjoyed from the patio. The backyard features an inviting back patio which extends the public living space to the outdoors. The pool and wash define the edge of the formal and developed outdoor space but a path leads down the slope to the guest house and across the wash to the sculpture garden. Native vegetation is used all around the house. Dense and varied planting creates a lush environment without the need for highwater plants. The front yard’s drive and motor court necessitated retaining walls which raised the ground level, bringing the landscaping closer to eye-level. Much of the existing vegetation can remain to form a natural base that will be refined and improved with carefully chosen species to create a thick and textured landscape.
1:30
N
Floor Plan Level 1
1
O.A.
3
2 4
N
1”=16’-0”
5
7
12 6
Key 1. Guest Suite 2. Powder Bath 3. Entry 4.Great Room 5. Kitchen 6. Dining 7. Office 8.Garage 9. Laundry/Work Room/Storage/ Mechanical 10. Grandparent Master Suite 11. Caretaker Room 12. Patio 13. Pool 14. Spa 15. Motor Court Guest House 16. Living/Dining/Kitchen 17. Powder Bath 18. Laundry 19. Bedroom W/ On-Suite Bath 20. Covered Parking O.A. =Open Above
2
12 O.A.
13
8
11
15
14 9 8 10
Room Schedule 2 Master Suites 1 Guest Suite 4 Bedrooms w/ baths 3 Powder Baths Total: 7 Bed, 7.5 bath Great Room Home Office Library Laundry/Work Room 4 Car Garage Guest House 2 Bed, 2.5 Bath Living & Kitchen
2
17 18
19
16 19
20
Floor Plan Level 2 N
1”=16’-0”
Key
2
1 4
O.B. 3
1. Master Suite 2. Library Loft 3. Bedroom W/ On-Suite Bath 4. Balcony 3 4
O.B. =Open Below Area Calculations Livable 1st level: 5233 sq. ft. 2nd level: 3041 sq. ft. Total Livable: 8274 sq. ft. Guest House Livable: 1492 sq. ft. Patio/Deck 1st level: 1991 sq. ft. 2nd level: 2015 sq. ft. Total Outdoor Living: 4006 sq. ft. Guest House Patio: 280 sq. ft. Garage & Storage:1675 sq. ft.
3
4
Ceiling & Lighting Plan Level 1 N
a
b
c
a d-e
1”=16’-0”
b
a
a
Key a: 10 ft. b: 22 ft. c: 18ft. d-e: 16-12 ft.
a
Ceiling & Lighting Plan Level 2
b
c
d-e
N
d
1”=16’-0”
a
Key a: 10 ft. b: 22 ft. c: 18ft. d-e:10-12 ft.
North Elevation 1”=16’-0”
South Elevation 1”=16’-0”
West Elevation 1”=16’-0”
East Elevation 1”=16’-0”
Black slate contrasts with the light travertine to mark the central axis of the house. Leading from the front court to the edge of the pool, this visual element draws the eye and body to the mountain vistas to the north and south and helps align the house to take advantage of those views.
Luxury & Sustainability The house is luxurious with large spaces, fine decoration, sumptuous accommodations, and ample opportunity to enjoy the comfortable Arizona climate for a relaxing southwest lifestyle. Adding to the sense of luxury is the knowledge that this house is environmentally responsible and green. Clerestory windows provide natural ventilation and ample light, even in the library (right). A rainwater catchment system helps native plants thrive and allows a verdant garden to grow. The house is oriented to shade itself to reduce heat gain in the summer but allow sunlight through the large south-facing windows in the winter. Solar panels concealed on the wide roofs, along with low-energy and low-water use fixtures and appliances, make this home more energy independent and environmentally sustainable.
West Master Suite