High Desert Retreat

PrizeHonorable Mention in Architectural Design / Residential Architecture - Single Family
Firm LocationSan Francisco, United States
CompanyAidlin Darling Design
Lead ArchitectJoshua Aidlin
Design TeamAdam Rouse, Ben Damron, Sarah Kia, Jeff LaBoskey

Sited on a rocky desert plateau, this home is tightly nestled within a constellation of boulders. The brief was simple: create a modest home that didn’t remove a single Pinyon tree, embraced the desert climate, and framed the dynamic vistas. The home’s diagram is a triptych of elements: a floating roof plane, a collection of wooden volumes, and two concrete anchor walls. The home is a simple framing device to observe the dynamic surrounding terrain. The structure is quiet and crisp in its geometry, intentionally contrasting the desert forms and low to the ground to minimize its presence.