Las Palmas Heights
The residence's sloping, infill Sonora Desert location created both the project's greatest challenge and greatest opportunity. Surrounded by existing homes--two in particular enjoying a 50+ year unobstructed view over the land--made privacy and sight-lines, both from and towards the home, fundamental form givers. Moreover, while seeking to improve and restore a native arroyo and its natural ground water recharge zone the design set strict goals to maintain the areas native fauna and flora. The privacy desires, openness of plan, sloping site, preservation of undisturbed land and infill condition resulted in 3,250 SF design formed by two intersecting rectangular bars. To capture all the program the two bars form a "T" such that the lower master wing's roof becomes the upper kitchen's interior soffit and then this line continues out again to become the exterior roof of the breezeway and garage. |