Judges' Comments
- N/A
Project Data:
Completion Date: 10/28/2007
Square Footage: 1731
Building Use: New Custom Residentail Desert Home (unbuilt)
Location: APN 601-481-05 ADOBE ROAD, JOSHUA TREE, CA 92252 (addressed not offically assigned yet)
Project Description:
Custom Desert Home
601-481-05 Adobe Drive, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
(Unbuilt: Impacted by recession while at 85% CD phase)
Adobe Drive is in the high desert elevation of Joshua Tree, 2,700 feet above sea level (coordinates 34.123909° N, -116.345844° W.) RS Detached Residential. The temperatures highs are 101° with lows of 36 ° respectively.
The 18,000 square foot view lot’s proximity lies between the entrance to the “Joshua Tree National Park” and “The Desert View Conservation Area” as the site lies remote in a sparsely populated area one mile above Twenty-nine Palms Hwy 62. The current landscape has a 3% slope of loose sandy soil, all sparingly spotted with indigenous arid plants, surrounded by residential lots of similar scale. All utilities conveniently located on site except sewer.
The general area is known for the unique geologic landscape. Sculpted by strong winds against occasional torrents rain creates nature’s own architectural wonder that is otherworldly. This neighboring hill of large rocks, multi-story boulders, spotted by Joshua Trees truly marks this distinctive California desert region. As an architectural counterpart to the surrounding area, the project design celebrates the mystical expression through the architectural theme.
The client wanted a getaway in the vast desert space, a place to rest. The design offers these expansive feeling through elongated horizontal expression that lightly interplay with the building massing in a simple comprehensible language. This custom home is a desert oasis, offering a modest living area of 1,731 square foot, attached with oversize garage of 650.0 square foot and a covered carport 222 square foot. For shade overhangs, covered patios of projected soffits adds additional sun protection while enjoying the open arid views.
The interior layout offers either private and open spaces, from entertaining to retreat. The layout created was to bring curiosity using simple and clean contemporary lines. The “less is more” approach minimized the cost while still owning up to sophistication; Our motto, “Simple Design = Ultimate Sophistication”. Ceiling lines are high to allow peak season of heat to rise above. The ceiling variation range from 9’-6” to 12’- 6” that further defined the rooms to ratio and space while finding visual interest with balance.
Low in maintenance, the exterior plaster utilizes simple textures and lines. Most interest is drawn to the massing variation. The exterior shapes allow shadows cast from the negative and positive forms of walls and soffit. These architectural forms emulate the same shadows cast from the rocks of the Joshua Park Monument. In all, the long stretch single story structure orchestrates the expansive horizontal expression of the desert. Exterior colors modestly were chosen to allow the architecture to closely blend into the landscape background.
The concrete seat walls that frame the outdoor rear/side patio areas draw further interest as the 3” vertical drain slots dividing garden walls creates a free-stand floating effect. The final punctuation of design is accessorized by the glazing. Windows produce a strong statement about the views and are uniquely patterned with divided glass frames in accentuating the custom geometrical contemporary theme.
Materials were very carefully selected for the weather extremes in keeping energy conservation. The construction is slab on grade with energy star rated building materials. For the walls and roof, the prime choice of materials is thermal panel preconstruction wall/roof system. All integrated into one sandwich panel, both structural rigid and integrally insulated that come together into one composite for two-dimensional erection White single membrane roof coating reflects the heat and keeps water integrity tight from its low pitch roof. The flat ceiling with a slightly tapered roof is custom ordered as one component thus keeps cost and bulk of materials price down. Conveniently, the roof, wall and ceiling finishes can all be easily applied from the cement board substrate panels.
Plumbing is networked from one manifold using “Wardflex” accessories of manufactured plastics fittings and multiple shut-offs valves, integrated from one central location.
Electrical runs through smart systems to manage the heating and air conditioning as well as other devices and appliances to assure energy efficiency throughout the day and night. Auto light dimming, window treatment sun control, fans, in all balances the dynamics of day and night light and temperatures through the network of the automated system, adjusting to the 24 hour range of semi-extreme temperatures.
C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment
Submitted By: |
John A. Salat |
Design Architect: |
John A. Salat |
Associate Architect or Firm: |
John A. Salat Architects 22386 Woodgrove Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630 http://ZenArchitect.com |
Landscape Architect: |
John A. Salat Architects 22386 Woodgrove Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630 http://ZenArchitect.com |
Owner / Developer: |
Business Partners: DAVID RUBEL & JEFF CHARLES |
Engineer: |
ThermaSAVE Manufacture for building shell (Footing Engineering TBD) |
General Contractor: |
N/A (Unbuilt) |
Consultant: |
ThermaSAVE Manufacture Both Structural "stress skinned" panel / structural insulated panels (SIPs) |
Photographer: |
Color rendering by XR3d |
California Desert Residence
Category
Residential Custom