DUST: tucson mountain retreat, arizona

‘tucson mountain retreat’ by DUST, sonoran desert, tucson, arizonaimage © jeff goldberg / esto

the sonoran desert is mystical landscape replete with warm hues and expanses of arid-appropriate greenery. among the eroded sculptures of rocky outcroppings and complex reliefs of nearby arroyos, a rammed earth home designed by local firm DUST lightly touches the landscape. the tucson-based architecture, construction and fabrication team comprised of jesus robles and cade hayes, has imbued their first project with the sacred weight of the landscape. the home values its approach through a winding desert path of lush desert plants until the architecture emerges from the harsh scenery dotted with cacti and palo verde, a native desert shrub. the entryway is series of concrete volumes that dissolve into the desert floor, yet playfully lead to the quiet aperture of the glazed front space. the rammed earth construction creates meandering lateral lines across the planes of the house, serving to refer to both a topographic horizon and the richly layered skin of the earth within and throughout that structure.

view of an exterior slab against the palette of the mystical arizona skyimage © jeff goldberg / esto

the fragile environment is respected both actually and visually, with moments of bilateral glazing affording uninterrupted lines of sight into the golden, arid terrain while also providing ample cross-ventilation. additionally, an upper deck further allows the inhabitant to further internalize the dazzling, dusty stretch of terrain as the oranges of the sunset give way to the warm purple-blues of the night sky. the very materials of the dwelling draw from the power of fire; interior walls selectively use the ‘shou sugi ban’ siding technique, a japanese method wherein charred cedar is used to preserve wood. alabaster cladding and tiles complete the warm palette of the bathrooms, often open to the elements, while the rest of the home is filled with the warm squares of the afternoon sun.

playful concrete volumes rise from the dusty ground to the entranceimage © jeff goldberg / esto

the top level ‘sky hall’ allows uninterrupted views of the sonoran desertimage © jeff goldberg / esto

(right) charred cedar is used as cladding / image © bill timmerman(left) the charred wood lines the spiral stair to the top observatory / image © jeff goldberg / esto

living room extends into the arid landscapeimage © jeff goldberg / esto

bedroom viewimage © jeff goldberg / esto

the bedroom and bathroom are enclosed by a flexible system of sliding doors and alabaster-clad bathrooms complete the warm material schemeimage © jeff goldberg / esto