011 Villa II

The Desert House begins and ends with the site. The objective of the design is to create a house that “gazes.” With full glass windows, a heavy and deep set roof, and Siamese columns that frame the desert boundaries beyond, the home allows one to feel safe and protected from the harsh realities of the landscape while at the same time treating the earth as an extension of the home.

We made several trips to the desert to specifically find a plot of land that fulfilled the requirements set forth by the owners in conversation with us. They imagined this retreat as a place of respite and re-connection; a place from which to enjoy the virtues of their land in a way that is harmonious with the landscape. We settled on a plot that was ever expansive, with large mountain ranges in the distance that at times appear closer and other times further than they are in reality, an illusion that is well known to the avid desert wanderer.

The program is straightforward, with enough space on the property to expand as their family grows and their needs change. This dwelling consists of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open expansive great room that houses the kitchen, dining, and living areas.

A significant part of the design is that the home is fully passive, meaning the house uses a maximum amount of renewable energy sources. Using ancient techniques found in the desert regions of Persia, we have integrated a passive air conditioning system with the use of ‘Badgirs’ (Persian) or wind towers. These towers draw air down to a basement below ground that then naturally cools the air before it flows back up through vented openings in the home’s interiors. The basement, or “cool room” is open to a pool of water that is naturally lower in temperature and subsequently turns the hot air received through the “Badgir” into cool air that flows through the home. The roof is fully covered in solar panels that provide solar power to the house. The use of mud brick and natural sediment on the roof and the slab, as well as at the central core of the house help regulate temperatures as well with their natural thermal abilities.