American studio Hazelbaker Rush has created a mountainside residence where the lower levels blend into the rocky site, while the bright white upper volume stands out in contrast.
The Franklin Mountain House is located on the fringe of El Paso, Texas. Perched 800 feet (244 metres) above the city, the desert dwelling is situated in the foothills of a mountain range and is afforded views of the urban landscape below.

Encompassing 5,200 square feet (483 square metres), the home was built on a rugged, terraced site dotted with native cacti, colourful grasses and aromatic herbs. The property has become a "sanctuary on the hillside", said Hazelbaker Rush, a studio based in Tucson, Arizona, that was founded by Darci Hazelbaker and Dale Rush.
The three-storey home consists of stacked boxes nestled into the slope. The team covered the lower portion of the dwelling in local grey basalt, a type of volcanic rock.
Applied using a "rubble wall style" that is found throughout the city, the stone cladding enables the home to visually merge with the raw landscape. "From a distance, the lower floors nearly disappear," the architects said.
In contrast, the top volume is faced with white lime stucco and was placed at a perpendicular angle. The volume is punctuated with elongated windows framed in black.

A large portion of the box extends beyond the lower levels and is supported by two thick columns.
The home's composition was influenced by an abandoned quartz ...