Painted Sky Residence

Scottsdale / Arizona / USA

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

In response to the owner’s request for an “elemental home” defined by modern simplicity and free from clichéd ornamentation, our design approach sought to create a residence that transcends temporal trends, embodying a timeless quality that harmonizes with the natural desert surroundings.

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

The central organizing principle was the enclosed courtyard, a traditional southwestern archetype that not only imparts privacy and shelter from the elements but also serves as a focal point for the interior spaces. Walls of glass envelop this courtyard, offering controlled views of nature to the social and circulation areas while welcoming soft, reflected daylight.

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture
The central organizing principle was the enclosed courtyard, a traditional southwestern archetype that not only imparts privacy and shelter from the elements but also serves as a focal point for the interior spaces. Walls of glass envelop this courtyard, offering controlled views of nature to the social and circulation areas while welcoming soft, reflected daylight.

Natural field stone, earth-toned stucco, naturally weathered copper, and cold-rolled steel were selected to achieve the owner’s desired elemental aesthetic. These materials not only define distinct interior spaces but also compose a visually pleasing palette that appears as if naturally scattered across the desert landscape over time.

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture
Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

The shed roof, the most elemental of forms, takes center stage in shielding the home from the harsh desert elements. Starting at a low height near the front entry to establish a welcoming human scale, the roof then ascends dramatically, revealing expansive mountain views to the north.

The shed roof, the most elemental of forms, takes center stage in shielding the home from the harsh desert elements. Starting at a low height near the front entry to establish a welcoming human scale, the roof then ascends dramatically, revealing expansive mountain views to the north.
Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

Designed for the homeowners to age in place, this single-level home gracefully integrates with the natural terrain by nestling into a gentle swale rather than standing proudly atop it. Abundant glass ensures an unobstructed connection with nature, while eyebrow-like overhangs provide shade from the desert sun.

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture
Designed for the homeowners to age in place, this single-level home gracefully integrates with the natural terrain by nestling into a gentle swale rather than standing proudly atop it. Abundant glass ensures an unobstructed connection with nature, while eyebrow-like overhangs provide shade from the desert sun.
Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

In a seamless interplay between inside and out, interior materials like wood ceilings extend to the outdoor living spaces while exterior materials such as copper and cold-rolled steel reach into the interior. This deliberate blurring of boundaries reinforces the notion that this home is not merely in the desert but of the desert—a harmonious embodiment of the surrounding landscape.

Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture
Birds Nest – Scottsdale Custom Home – Modern Architecture

In a seamless interplay between inside and out, interior materials like wood ceilings extend to the outdoor living spaces, and exterior materials such as copper and cold-rolled steel reach into the interior. This deliberate blurring of boundaries reinforces the notion that this home is not merely in the desert but of the desert—a harmonious embodiment of the surrounding landscape.

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