A Dramatic Floating Roof Crowns This Rammed Earth Home in Arizona
Designed by award-winning firm Kendle Design Collaborative, the poetically named Dancing Light House in Paradise Valley, Arizona, celebrates its desert landscape. The home features striking, geometric shapes that mirror the surrounding mountains, with nature providing the main foundation for the house's aesthetic and distinct character.
Layered, rammed earth walls link Dancing Light House to its desert landscape.
Its 5,600 square feet span a single story; with various outdoor living areas integrated throughout, the dwelling comprises separate, yet related, structures.
The wood boards lining the canopy’s underside appear to glow in the desert sun. Its tectonic-like shapes reference both the local geology and monsoon cloud formations.
The signature feature of the residence is its commanding floating roof canopy, which lends an impressive, sculptural accent to the design. With an underside comprised of tectonic-like forms, the dramatic pointed roofs protect the residence from the elements while appearing as a beautiful sculpture, balancing the owner’s desire for both elegance and coziness.
To keep the focus on the canopy’s form and natural materials, the team designed concealed lighting and mechanical systems.
Starting low within the interior living spaces, the canopy gracefully rises toward the 180-degree views of Camelback Mountain beyond.
Apart from the local topography, the residence also draws inspiration from natural light, which seeps in via carefully articulated crevices.
The kitchen features a warm, neutral color palette, similar to its dessert surroundings.
The home’s interior spaces are arranged around a central outdoor atrium, allowing fresh breezes and warm daylight to provide natural comfort inside.
Inside, rammed earth walls and cast-in-situ concrete are left exposed, strengthening the home’s relationship to nature.
A bedroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the space to capture plenty of sunlight.
In contrast to the rustic feel brought forth via rammed earth walls, other materials such as metal, glass, and steel add an industrial touch.
A floor-to-ceiling window in the bathroom frames mesmerizing mountain views.
A corner reading nook offers an idyllic spot for relaxation.
Reflecting off the swimming pool surface, the light creates dynamic compositions on the fractured wall planes, while also changing the tones of the living spaces throughout the day.
Project Credits:
Architect: Kendle Design Collaborative / @kendledesign
Builder: Desert Star Construction
Structural Engineer: PH Structural
Civil Engineer: Gookin Engineers
Landscape Design: GBtwo Landscape Architecture, Inc.
Lighting Design: Creative Designs in Lighting
Interior Design: David Michael Miller
Cabinetry Design: Bulthaup
Cabinets & Doors: Wood Design Studios
Photography: Alexander Vertikoff / @vertikoff_photography
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