Located at the edge of the Grand Canyon, this house - designed in collaboration with Atelier Powder - emulates the experience of awe and wonder found within it's dramatic surrounding landscape. The house is ground-up, a one-bedroom retreat, designed to accommodate up to four people. This project focuses on the sensory transitions between rooms and spatial moments within rooms, mirroring the immersive, unfolding nature of a canyon hike.
A collection of moments emulate the intrigue and discovery of a canyon hike, which include a hidden entry that alludes to intriguing alcoves, an outdoor oculus featuring expansive skies, wide windows to capture distance desertscapes, and narrow, stepped passageways echoing terraced landforms.
Material selection emphasizes the sense of warmth and comfort found in Arizona, with deliberate incorporation of textural and climate appropriate materials like rammed earth, encouraging a tactile sensibility that comes straight from the surrounding landforms. The design also incorporates various passive design strategies such as cross ventilation, wall mass and solar panels to minimize reliance of active mechanical systems on an off-grid site.
This house is not just a shelter, but a way to feel the desert. While small, this house offers a wide range of ways to experience nature. A place to immerse with hot dry air during the day and cold breezes at night.
Design Firms: Atelier Powder, LLC + Increments Studio, LLP
Contractor: Architect's Loft, PLLC
Client: Private
