Seeing Red – Arizona / A-I-R Architects

I grew up and have lived close to the water my whole life, so admittedly desert architecture has always seemed somewhat foreign to me. The idea of designing a home to sit in such an inhospitable place appears daunting and growing up my only real reference for desert architecture were the pleasure homes of Palm Springs. In recent years, I have always kept a keen eye out for this genre of architecture and this week my eye was caught by this Arizona project designed by A-I-R Architects.

Low slung in appearance, yet monumental in scale, this home is as grand as it is understated. The defining feature of the design are the pale red bricks laid in standard form as well as in varying textured patterns. These brings give the house an immediate connected to the red earth of the surrounding landscape. This landscape is further connected to the house through the large expanses of glass that double as moveable walls meaning the sweeping terraces become as much a part of the house as the interior. Together with the brick and glass, the interior is characterised by concrete form-work and large steel beams that seem to anchor the house to the hard ground below.

I can’t honestly say that desert life would be for me, however this stunning home would certainly sweeten the deal if it ever came to that.

Story by Brendan Guy, follow him on Instagram MrBrendanGuy

Images: Bill Timmerman