Houzz Tours
Modern Architecture
Houzz Tour: A Glass House Harmonizes With the Desert
An expert collaboration results in a home designed to celebrate sun and shade, with plenty of ways to soak in the views
This striking pavilion of glass and steel emerges from a desert landscape, making the most of its views and light while protecting its inhabitants from the blazing sun. Designed by Lake Flato Architects, the house uses large panels of glass to let in the views, provides inviting spaces for outdoor living and has a system of overhangs and shades that shield it from the sun. Lake Flato enlisted The Construction Zone to build this custom design for a golf- and desert-loving couple from Texas. Sit back and take a tour with Construction Zone founder Andy Byrnes, who oversaw the construction.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A golf-loving couple
Location: Desert Mountain, Arizona (near Scottsdale)
Size: About 4,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A golf-loving couple
Location: Desert Mountain, Arizona (near Scottsdale)
Size: About 4,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
The architects oriented the windows so that the owners could take in the desert and the mountains, while editing neighboring homes from view.
The home consists of four buildings: the main house, the garage, the guest suite and the office. Large windows maximize natural light inside, while large overhangs protect the interior from the desert sun. The overhangs and the pathways create connections between the separate buildings, making them all part of a whole.
The main house is a glass pavilion. To the left of it is a home office building; the breezeway seen at the edge of the picture connects to a guest pavilion.
"Sustainability is very important to both Lake Flato and Construction Zone," says Byrnes. "A big part of that is using local materials. We sourced at least 90 percent of the materials used on this project locally." For example, he sourced the mesquite for the flooring and the floating accent wall in the living room from nearby Tucson.
"Other sustainable elements of the home include the tight envelope, high-efficiency systems, light control systems, and overhangs that shade the home from direct sunlight and work in concert with large windows that make the most of the natural light," says Byrnes. Clerestory windows connect the rooms to the outside and spread natural light from room to room.
"Sustainability is very important to both Lake Flato and Construction Zone," says Byrnes. "A big part of that is using local materials. We sourced at least 90 percent of the materials used on this project locally." For example, he sourced the mesquite for the flooring and the floating accent wall in the living room from nearby Tucson.
"Other sustainable elements of the home include the tight envelope, high-efficiency systems, light control systems, and overhangs that shade the home from direct sunlight and work in concert with large windows that make the most of the natural light," says Byrnes. Clerestory windows connect the rooms to the outside and spread natural light from room to room.
The house easily transforms into an open-air pavilion. Large custom pivot doors have a minimalist aesthetic. When they're closed, the line between inside and out is difficult to see; when they're open, the line completely disappears.
The open-air spirit continues throughout the interior. Walls float, with spaces left open above and below. This strategy lends proportion and division to the spaces, while light and air circulate from one room to the next.
The open-air spirit continues throughout the interior. Walls float, with spaces left open above and below. This strategy lends proportion and division to the spaces, while light and air circulate from one room to the next.
Lofty ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass allow soaring views of the landscape from almost everywhere inside the home. All the furniture and even the walls point your eye to the view; this shot looks almost like a one-point perspective drawing with a distant cactus as the center point.
As for the logistics of constructing such a home, hiring experienced local builders to execute a design is usually a good plan; they know the local craftspeople, resources and climate issues. "We used hot-rolled steel all around the project; in our dry climate, we don't need to use weathering Cor-Ten steel," says Byrnes.
The rusted steel around the pool helps it blend into its desert surroundings and connects it to the architecture; look at the way it relates to the overhang in this photo.
If you look closely at the pool, you can see a separate hot tub area on the right side, which is hidden beneath 1/2 inch or so of water. This way the plunge pool and the spa appear as one simple rectangular element, which is in keeping with the home's minimalist aesthetic.
If you look closely at the pool, you can see a separate hot tub area on the right side, which is hidden beneath 1/2 inch or so of water. This way the plunge pool and the spa appear as one simple rectangular element, which is in keeping with the home's minimalist aesthetic.
All of the furnishings are in harmony with the house. While you may see an icon here and there, most of the pieces have lines and colors that blend in and enhance, rather than compete with, the spectacular views.
"Much of the furniture inside was custom designed by Lake Flato and built by Construction Zone, such as this nightstand/headboard/platform bed," says Byrnes. "While a large part of our business is building our own designs, working in the role as contractor with amazing architects like these was a great experience."
More:
Houzz Tour: Open Living in the Arizona Desert
"Much of the furniture inside was custom designed by Lake Flato and built by Construction Zone, such as this nightstand/headboard/platform bed," says Byrnes. "While a large part of our business is building our own designs, working in the role as contractor with amazing architects like these was a great experience."
More:
Houzz Tour: Open Living in the Arizona Desert
The spaces relate to the house via physical and visual connections and materials. On this outdoor patio, a steel staircase, exposed concrete and flagstones relate back to the house via texture and color.
Logs for the fire pit are cleverly stored beneath a sidewalk. To the right, there's a grill and another patio with a dining area.