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Cooling Desert Retreat

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In this contemporary design, beams radiating from a built-in fireplace support a corrugated metal roof. The angle of the veranda roof brings the outside in, expanding the view to the tree tops. The color palette is kept muted, celebrating the subtle texture of the building materials—the brushed surface of raw concrete, dull metal of the roof, and pattern of the flooring. The desert sun can be so extreme that bright colors like red and orange can make a space feel hotter. We used a lot of cooling tones like grays and blues and light colors that almost make this landscape feel like it’s near the ocean.
In this contemporary design, beams radiating from a built-in fireplace support a corrugated metal roof. The angle of the veranda roof brings the outside in, expanding the view to the tree tops. The color palette is kept muted, celebrating the subtle texture of the building materials—the brushed surface of raw concrete, dull metal of the roof, and pattern of the flooring. The desert sun can be so extreme that bright colors like red and orange can make a space feel hotter. We used a lot of cooling tones like grays and blues and light colors that almost make this landscape feel like it’s near the ocean.
We had fun with the lights used for the landscape. All are kept muted and subdued, but wrapped lights around the trees, soft uplight washes to the walls, the flicker of a fire, and playful floating orbs all enhance the garden after sundown.
We had fun with the lights used for the landscape. All are kept muted and subdued, but wrapped lights around the trees, soft uplight washes to the walls, the flicker of a fire, and playful floating orbs all enhance the garden after sundown.
A second shot of the shaded area shows how cafe lights and the glow of the fire transform the area from cooling in the day to warm and inviting in the evening.
A second shot of the shaded area shows how cafe lights and the glow of the fire transform the area from cooling in the day to warm and inviting in the evening.
Other areas of the garden rely on clean lines of hardscape and large-scale cacti as structural, living art.
Other areas of the garden rely on clean lines of hardscape and large-scale cacti as structural, living art.
The exterior walls of the garden mimic the natural grade change of the hillside, descending in gradual tiers as the slope drops beneath. The walls also form the backdrop for mature trees—celebrating their stature and rooting the landscape in the land.
The exterior walls of the garden mimic the natural grade change of the hillside, descending in gradual tiers as the slope drops beneath. The walls also form the backdrop for mature trees—celebrating their stature and rooting the landscape in the land.
A second fire pit creates a destination across the yard. The garden wall was designed with a lowered notch for taking in views of the city skyline.
A second fire pit creates a destination across the yard. The garden wall was designed with a lowered notch for taking in views of the city skyline.

From Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery

Working with a sloped, south-facing lot overlooking the Tucson skyline, we wanted to make the most of the view and create useable spaces for outdoor living. The site also needed more sun-cover for our clients to be able to sit outside and enjoy their yard. We worked with the natural slope of the lot to add tiered outdoor living areas and stair-stepping exterior walls. In an area with an outdoor lounge and fire pit, we dropped the height of the wall to open up views of the mountains and city skyline—it’s the perfect place to watch the sun go down.

We remodeled the existing pool to give it an infinity edge which again, draws the eye out towards the mature trees and view of the valley. We also designed a contemporary covered veranda with angled beams radiating from a built-in fireplace. The veranda provides shade for the outdoor dining table during the day and a second inviting, fire-lit destination in the evening.