Collection by Aaron Britt

Best Modern Desert Houses

Few climates offer the extreme heat and extreme cold (all in one day) of the desert. Throw in the fact that they're sparsely populated, offer few municipal services, and are often in the middle of nowhere and you've got the perfect recipe for innovative, off-the-grid architecture. In our Elements Issue, we took a look at homes designed for all climes; here are our favorite modern houses in the desert.

The rustic look of surfwear entrepreneur Jim Austin’s home both stands out and also conforms with its rough-and-tumble surroundings in Pioneertown, California.
The rustic look of surfwear entrepreneur Jim Austin’s home both stands out and also conforms with its rough-and-tumble surroundings in Pioneertown, California.
Available to rent on Airbnb, the two-bedroom prefab house as a prototype for their pre-engineered IT House series and made an appearance in Dwell Magazine’s November 2008 issue.
Available to rent on Airbnb, the two-bedroom prefab house as a prototype for their pre-engineered IT House series and made an appearance in Dwell Magazine’s November 2008 issue.
Entirely off the grid, the house is powered by four photovoltaic panels that supply electricity to lights, small appliances, and water pumps.
Entirely off the grid, the house is powered by four photovoltaic panels that supply electricity to lights, small appliances, and water pumps.
The Blue Sky prototype house leads a second life as desert getaway for David McAdam and his partner Scott Smith.
The Blue Sky prototype house leads a second life as desert getaway for David McAdam and his partner Scott Smith.