Modern Architecture in the Desert

This residence is a spread out single story house facing flat desert lands; a white house set in reddish-brown open scenery. It was designed as a private, custom-made dream house, planned by its owner to be ready for her retirement. Comprising a built area of 190 square meters on a 500-square-meter lot, the project exemplifies a design approach that deeply respects its geographical context. Our architectural plan reflects the lifestyle needs of this life stage: the kids have left home, leisure time has expanded, and the grandchildren visit often. These factors provided the perfect "excuse" for us to create a spacious, pampering, and inviting home.

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Open Spacious Living Spaces

In our approach to the interior layout of this project, we clearly gave preference to spaciousness as opposed to a multiplicity of functions in closed rooms. The interiors are designed on a relatively generous scale, allowing for a natural flow and a seamless connection between the different areas of the house. To enhance the indoor-outdoor relationship and maximize natural light, we incorporated floor-to-ceiling windows. These expansive openings allow the desert to penetrate the depth of the house, extending just beyond the turquoise waters of the pool. Along the rear facade, we designed a built pergola that shades the openings of the living and dining areas. This architectural solution not only improves comfort but also blurs the boundaries, making the outdoor environment a direct and harmonious extension of the living space.

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Climate Aware Design

Dealing with a hot climate requires advanced design thinking, which is why we placed great emphasis on ventilation and climate control solutions. We integrated a 12-meter-long hidden window at the top of the south wall in the public area. This element imbues filtered light into the living room while significantly enhancing airflow and ventilation throughout the space, since the hot air flows upward. Furthermore, all openings in the house enjoy outdoor louver shades, enabling the user to precisely control the amount of sun exposure and the angle at which light penetrates the interiors. As a cooling, balancing motif amidst the desert atmosphere, we enriched the project with water elements. A swimming pool and an ornamental pool are integrated into the building scheme so they can be experienced from both the interior and the exterior. The swimming pool is kept clean by an ecological filtering system, while its water is heated by solar panels situated on the roof.