Nestled into a boulder-strewn mountainside near Scottsdale, Ariz., this 10,000-square-foot custom home enjoys both a commanding view of Phoenix and complete privacy. The privacy is provided by two enormous granite outcroppings—each approximately 20 feet high and 30 feet wide—flanking both ends of the rectilinear plan.
Architect Bing Hu designed the contemporary house to be low-profile and tucked between the boulders. But putting it there was no simple task because the two out-croppings met in the middle of what was to be the building pad. So custom builder Eric Linthicum blasted and filled to create a buildable site.
The house, set on a concrete foundation and retaining wall system, blends into the rugged setting with walls sheathed in gold and silver quartzite dry-stack stone and a dramatically curved, dark gray, weathered zinc roof. Three terraces, all finished in the same French limestone used for interior floors, give the owners a seamless transition from inside to out through green–glass-glazed sliding doors.
Outdoors is where much of the living is done in this second home. The main terrace off the living spaces is devoted to the pool deck and pool. The cantilevered pool ends in a very long negative edge that seems to drop off the mountain-side. Integral to the foundation system, the pool was one of the first elements to be built on the project. “This raises safety issues,” explains Linthicum, “because you have a big hole that workers can fall into.” In cases like this, he generally builds a protective guardrail around the pool during construction.
The south terrace, off the master suite, takes advantage of the boulders, which act as a privacy wall. Here the owners can enjoy a spa built right into the rocks and out of view from the rest of the house.
At the opposite end of the house, the third terrace extends off the kitchen and three stepped-back bedrooms. There is everything here for self-sufficient outdoor living. The terrace includes an outdoor fireplace and seating area; an outdoor TV (the 42-inch screen is protected by an acrylic cover); and an outdoor kitchen area complete with grill, sink, storage, and bar.
Recesses and roof overhangs provide shelter from the fiery Southwest sun for the outdoor and indoor spaces. The dramatic roof form makes the rock-bound house seem to float above the valley far below.
Project Credits: Builder: Linthicum Custom Builders, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Architect: H & S International, Scottsdale; Landscape architect: Sonoran Desert, Cave Creek, Ariz.; Pool contractor: Supreme Pools, Scottsdale; Interior designer: Paula Berg Design, Scottsdale. Photography: Katsuhisa Kida; Illustration: Rick Vitullo.
