SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ARCHITECTS
R.J. BACON CONSULTING & DESIGN
Bob Bacon began designing after arriving in Phoenix in the late 1950s. Since then, he founded his firm, R.J. Bacon Consulting & Design, and created notable commercial, institutional and hospitality properties in addition to stunning residences. Rather than approaching architecture as an art form, Bacon strives to solve functional problems and elevate the resulting solutions to the level of art. “I consider ‘style’ to be the outcome of more fundamentally important and principled objectives,” he says. “I favor solutions derived authentically from their visual, cultural and environmental contexts.” Splitting his time between Orford, New Hampshire, and Paradise Valley, Arizona—home to his personal studio—Bacon is currently working on an array of projects, as well as writing a book about the daily challenges and practical realities of his profession. Asked to identify the part of his job he enjoys most, Bacon points to the creative freedom it affords him. “Because the spectra of the built environment are as broad as we wish, I am able to continuously challenge myself and expand the breadth and depth of my work,” he says. Yet, Bacon notes that no project is successful without having fully achieved the needs and wants of the client.
Bob Bacon, Principal 6735 North Desert Fairways Drive Paradise Valley, Arizona 602.997.8070 bob@thebaconcollections.com rjbacondesign.com
Ask the Expert Describe the philosophy behind your firm. I consider myself a problem-solving service provider first and an artist second. My mission is to offer seasoned guidance and proficient project management as we collaborate in the creation of a practical, valuable and artful home.
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Speaking to your line of work, what constitutes “good design”? Styling is what grabs us emotionally, while design determines how we feel about the results after living with it for a time. Styling encompasses colors, textures, materials, forms and other aesthetic aspects of the problem. Design includes aesthetics, but also deals with economics, efficiency, constructability and comfort. How do you define luxury? Luxury is relative and is simply the absence of want.
01. Nestled into a Sonoran Desert hillside, this home demonstrates the deep overhangs and durable materials of the southwestern regional vernacular. 02. The masculinity of this home's strong, bold materials is balanced by its refined detailing and elegant composition.
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