Desert Pose
Redding Residence at Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, Ariz.
In recent years, the architectureof many homes in the affluent, second-home preserve of Scottsdale, Ariz., has skewed more Tuscan Splendor than Desert Simplicity. The Redding Residence, an 8,300-square-foot beauty in the high Sonoran Desert, is an exception.
Architecturally, the sculptural home is split into two zones. One is a 4,300-square-foot, casual realm occupied by the owners. The other, with two bedrooms, is for extended family and friends, who visit often. The first floor of each zone has its own kitchen, laundry room, and living/family room; a lower level features a play room, media room, and two additional bedrooms.
That’s a lot of house, but it fits beautifully into its surroundings in an organic, unassuming way. Solid walls of concrete and rammed earth block out the harsh sun and preserve privacy. At the same time, an almost invisible line of glass, shaded by deep overhangs, breaks down the boundary between indoors and outdoors, framing near and distant views. Capping things off is a dramatic floating roof of locally mined copper. A prime example, no doubt, of what site-sensitive architecture can and should look like—all without a hint of Tuscany.—Kathleen Stanley
Award: Grand for best custom home—5,000 to 10,000 square feet; Builder: The Construction Zone, Phoenix; Architect: Kendle Design Collaborative, Scottsdale, Ariz.
