Desert Architecture Series #3 | Michael Higgins | Phoenix, Arizona

Drawing on the roots of Spanish Colonial homes originally built in the Arcadia Neighborhood this new home sits on ¾ acre lot just south of Camelback Road. The homes three car garage protrudes out from the main home, forming an intimate courtyard on the front of the home. Noise is buffered from nearby Camelback Road by the garages mass. A fireplace provides a focal point to the space.

Although historical in style and scale, the homes interior offers an open floor plan ideal for entertaining. Volume is provided with vaulted ceilings stick framed like the construction of historical structures. A cupola in the kitchen provides ample overhead light from above and lifts the ceiling. A long pool set on axis from the great room offers a beautiful focal point at the rear of the property which draws you outside. The ramada’s semi-circular opening is reflected as a full circle in the dark bottomed pool.

Arcades and covered patios protect the homes “skin” from the east and west sun exposure. The floorplan places all bedrooms together for this young family and a spare bedroom on the opposite side offers flexible use as an exercise room or a guest suite. An outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven and barbeque is shaded by a steel trellis with a camel arch framing the view of the nearby mountain. The interior rooms are connected to the intimate courtyard spaces with double French doors and Dutch doors allowing kids and dogs to “stay” when required. A custom ceramic tile mosaic depicts an orange tree with family names painted on the fruit. The image was borrowed from the Royal Palms Hotel where the couple was wed and reinforces the family’s love of the citrus groves that once dominated the Arcadia landscape.

Website - http://higginsarch.com
Film by Chibi Moku - http://chibimoku.com
Color Grading by Thomas Stigler