I was commissioned to design a home on a very steep third-acre parcel in Sedona Arizona.
The land offered amazing views in three directions and would need extensive grading to receive a building.
My client provided me with the number of bedrooms and baths required and a square footage maximum of 3000 square feet which would include the garage and laundry room. One detail that was very important to my client was the inclusion of an open loft.
The resulting design was very much influenced by my love of the Art Deco era.
My architectural style is often organic in form and romantic in nature, this residence enjoys that ethic. My designs focus on the beauty of Mother Nature and are always an invitation to step outside. Most of my experience had been with large Malibu estates. I was certain that my higher end skills would translate well and very much benefit this smaller home.
The loft dictated a two-story living area and I decided that the living room and open loft would overlook the most dramatic and available views to the east. I determined that the best vantage point for these remarkable views was the second story. The dining room and kitchen would also take in the same vistas.
That left me with the problem of getting from ground level to the main entertaining rooms. I chose to incorporate a mid-level entry. I employ this entry arrangement often because one-half flight of stairs is all that is needed to gain entry to the residence, additionally you are eased up over two landings which mitigate any sense of climbing. The other effect is a higher ceiling, the two-story living room and the half-story lower entry provide two-and-one-half stories overhead both at the interior and exterior entries.
I was able to incorporate multiple symbology’s into both the exterior and interior entry without causing a design conflict. A circular exterior cut-out showcases the round window beyond. The arch at the covered entry delineates the main entry doors and arched transom beyond. A two-and one-half story long narrow cutout reveals itself within the covered entry. The symbols at the entry are an important hint as to what is to come. Curved and round symbology from the entry and other elevations of the house are justified multiple times both at a horizonal and a vertical plane throughout the residence for continuity, as are the vertical spatial effects of the house. The bedroom-bathroom-wing feature nine and one-half foot ceilings.
The entry stairs, balcony’s, decks, loft stairs and the loft all share the same 2 1/2-foot radius theme. The identical 2-inch pipe railings applied at both the interior and the exterior are designed to relieve the transition from outside to inside the home.
The living room fireplace is designed on a 5-foot radius creating a very subtle horizonal arch. The effect is remarkable due to its two-story height and its understated slip of a mantle that contrast the radius.
The steep lot allowed me to open the kitchen and dining room to the upper ground level, which provides not only access to the extensive upper yards but a great entertaining asset for outside dining. An adjacent large covered deck is accessed from the dining room and from the outside patio, this provides additional dining options when protection from rain or sun is desired.
The second-story loft has its own deck and takes in a stunning view that is not available from any other vantage point. All of the rooms, save one bathroom, romantically step out to a deck or a ground level patio. The house is designed as a constant invitation to merge with the natural world.
I employed the discipline of designing all of the windows and sliders at a 5-foot width or segments of 2 ½ feet, creating a subliminal rhythm and providing a constant that is felt more than observed. Double story windows on three sides of the living room and entry showcase the extraordinary views. The top and bottom panels of the large living room windows reflect the master bedroom transom and create unity. I love white interior window frames with white walls, it provides a soft seamless custom residential appearance without the distraction of a contrasting window frame to interrupt the view. Four large skylights bring natural light into the two hallways as well as one of the bathrooms. The drywall texture is my signature finish that replicates the look of plaster, all drywall corners are radius.
The result is a residence that is a WOW when you open the front doors, a feeling of being in a special place, enjoyable to reside in, interesting and complex. As always, I design for the long term and expect my architecture to look its best in 100 years.