the wild west
T
he desert can be difficult land to master in many ways. The harsh and rugged region provides both opportunity and temptation. Although many architects give in to the urge to make a big statement, they are often better served by controlled expression and respect for the landscape. David Hovey, selected by Robb Report as one of the world’s foremost architects in 2005, is familiar with the land. He has designed many homes, including his own Sterling Ridge, in the upscale community of Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The project of almost 12,000 square feet, which was completed in 2003, was started as a way for the Chicago and Arizona architect to experiment in and understand the harsh climate. “A desert home should produce a distinctive architectural solution from other regional locations,” Hovey says. This is be done by addressing harsh terrain and arid climate and adapting a design to fit a year-round indoor and outdoor lifestyle. Rough topography and natural beauty give an architect the unique opportunity to be innovative and challenge design paradigms, which Hovey did with Sterling Ridge. He created a contemporary home that grows out of the desert using earth tones and a mix of cement and glass to create broad views of mountain formations and desert plant life. Hovey’s trademark marigold-orange steel beams frame the exterior and border concrete walls that are monochromatically consistent with the monotonous desert sand. “The colors and materials contrast the greens of desert vegetation for striking effect,” Hovey says. He situated the house close to desert trees to take advantage of their unique structures, which sit juxtaposed to the straight lines of the house. Cacti and other plants are unusually close to the dwelling and can almost be touched from its many decks. “Views through vegetation provide variety and relationship between the house and the land,” Hovey says. Arizona can be a tough place for an architect to practice. “I was motivated to rethink what a house should and could be,” Hovey says. In contrast to many area houses that turn to traditional opaque materials for the exterior, Hovey used glass and steel in a new and dynamic way to fully capture the surrounding beauty. Much of the home’s perimeter was constructed with floor-to-ceiling glass panels, and the motif continues inside where walls are moveable and transparent. The strategy allows light to pass from one side of the house to the other, and the surrounding desert environment is never hidden.
“I was motivated to rethink what a house should and could be.”
A reflecting pool beneath the home’s main wing cools the dry air as part of an extended approach to the main entrance. Next, the path proceeds onto a bridge that continues to the house. “There are still great views from the space, yet it was designed to feel very close and personal,” Hovey says. An adjacent, semi-enclosed courtyard emphasizes a connection to nature before a second pool reveals itself and seems to float above the natural ground. It’s actually an infinity pool that helps to remove the boundary between desert and house. The main house has a towering double-height interior where free-flowing living spaces are anchored by a sculptural staircase. “The zoned spaces are really one great volume defined with art and furniture into social, dining, and kitchen spaces,” Hovey says. The master bedroom, bathroom, and study float on a mezzanine above.
David Hovey, Owner
MARCH 2011
luxury home quarterly
97