Outcrop

Joshua Tree, California

Inspired by a Mediterranean design aesthetic, this house explores the timeless concept of desert courtyard living. The house is positioned on a site that gently slopes down to the north. The site is lacking any naturally occurring features or formations. This creates a sense of exposure, particularly to adjacent properties. With privacy as a concern, a design was conceived that would focus inward on itself. Providing intimate, protected spaces for the occupant while still allowing for framed views of the distant landscape.

Much like an outcropping of rocks, the home consists of individual volumes that contain the private spaces. These volumes then define the outdoor spaces that are used for congregation. The volumes follow the subtle slope of the topography, creating an elegantly terraced interior landscape that is in tune with its surroundings.