Nestled at the base of the Catalina mountains adjacent to a protected peak, the Ventana House is a window on the desert. The two-story dwelling rises from its mountainside setting like a geological outcropping, a rugged exterior form shaped from within by openings that afford panoramic views.
© Ema Peter
Like a geode, the light-filled and refined interior is a contrast and a surprise. The home’s main living spaces are located above the desert floor, connecting the home’s inhabitants to a foreground of saguaro forest and the distant horizon.
© Ema Peter
The entry sequence into the home begins at a notched erosion in the exterior massing. Movement is reoriented up a sculptural stair that occupies a double-height skylighted gallery. The threshold at this moment of vertical ascension is further defined by a bridge that passes overhead. Clad in steel perforated panels, the bridge filters light from above and offers glimpses of experiences to come. © Ema Peter
Upon arrival at the home’s main living space, the form of the interior volume adjusts again, marked by a sloped ceiling that echoes the silhouettes of the distant foothills. Clad in alder panels, the ceiling becomes an organizing datum, mapping activities and interactions below: dining, cooking, conversing, and relaxing. Minimally detailed cabinet elements further inform inhabitation, acting as a subtle backdrop to the main feature: daily life in a desert oasis.
© Ema Peter
The initial conception of th...