Architecture studio The Ranch Mine built a courtyard house for a musician in Arizona with white stucco walls and solar panels paired with a Tesla home battery for power outages.
The project, called O-asis, was built on an under-utilised, 1.6-acre site along a Phoenix mountain preserve.
O-asis has a roof covered in solar panels
Designed for a pianist by local firm The Ranch Mine, the house is intended to serve as a "respite from city life".
O-shaped in plan, the 4,090-square-foot (380-square-metre) residence is organised around a central courtyard.
White stucco and hardwood define the exterior
Heavily insulated walls are wrapped in white stucco, while recessed niches are clad in ipe ? an exotic hardwood that is known for its durability. Part of the property is surrounded by a rattlesnake fence for keeping out snakes made of weathering steel. The house lies low to the ground, rising only 12.5 feet (3.8 metres).
"Its strong horizontal form was designed as a datum for highlighting the dramatic shapes of the desert landscape," the design team said.
The desert house is protected by a rattlesnake fence of weathering steel
Almost everything in the house can be controlled wirelessly, including the lights, speakers, blinds and locks.
The team installed a rooftop solar array and Tesla Powerwall batteries, which act as a backup energy source during power outages.
An internal courtyard brings light and air into the home
Upon entering, one steps into an austere foyer...