Downing Residence

An intimate desert view from the master bedroom.

Each pavilion of the house is a different living zone. They are linked by glazed transition spaces and are individually pivoted to optimize views of the city lights and the mountain surround. The living, dining and kitchen spaces are placed beneath a roof that sweeps upward in a butterfly-like fashion to maximize the view down the valley to the entirety of Tucson on one side and the towering mountains on the other. In the second pavilion, two guest bedrooms and a library occupy the second floor above the two-car garage, which is tucked behind the first pavilion in order to diminish the impact of its doors upon approaching the house. The second pavilion also affords a small library balcony, which hangs in a two-story gallery space and capitalizes on the panoramic views. The gallery also features a cantilevered powder room that projects from the block wall and hovers over the underlying desert. The third pavilion contains the serene master bedroom and study. The master bedroom looks across a 66-foot long, knife-edged lap pool that reflects the surrounding mountains, the blue southwestern sky, and beams of nighttime starlight.

The custom mosaic front door by Aureleo Rosano compliments the exquisite entrance.

We chose durable materials to reduce maintenance and forge a kinship with the site. The materials of the Downing Residence are rustic and natural feeling, and each of the rooms has a strong connection to the exterior. The palette consists of simple raw materials that resonate with the desert: a deep brown textured block matches the site's dramatic surrounding rock outcroppings, rusted steel, glass, concrete and various woods all compliment and harmonize with each other and the landscape. Upon entering the residence, the split-face block transitions from an exterior to an interior surface creating a seamless progression between them. Windows thoughtfully frame vistas of cityscapes, mountain ranges and desert flora. The practiced design maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the year, with southeast facing windows collecting warmth during the winter and west-facing glass being kept to a minimum to reduce solar heat gain. The house effectively opens to cross ventilation to maintain comfort passively and efficiently in order to live in concert with the surrounding desert environment.

The butterfly roof collects water and allows for views to the east.

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