Arroyo Residence
Arroyo Residence
Phoenix, AZ

A modern equivalent to the traditional ranch home, this 3-bedroom private residence also includes an attached guest house and three car garage. The 1.5-acre desert site adjoins the Phoenix Mountain Preserve situated at the northern edge of the city.  

The home is designed in dialogue with the site, anchored on the edge of the arroyo and contained against the stone ridge of the mountain preserve. A steel bridge spans the arroyo with minimal impact connecting the street to an entry court. The residence is organized into three primary volumes each formed by massive walls along the northern street facade that dissolve into floor to ceiling glazing against the stone ridge to the south offering expansive views of the preserved mountain landscape. The central vertical element countering the dominant horizontal massing marks the entry and hearth. 

A series of interconnected, folded roof planes open for light and views as they pass by one another and then extend to capture exterior terraces at each level. The gentle folding of the roof, cascading terraces, and open floor plan lay over the topography of the site, unifying each of the building forms and providing drama as they open and compress the spaces within.  

Punctuations in the block walls are focused towards distant views and selectively frame the landscape. This careful editing of the views permits open connection with the mountain preserve while preserving the intimacy and privacy of the house.  


Design Architect:  Richärd Kennedy Architects


Architect of Record:  Richärd Kennedy Architects


Client:  Mark Howard


Size:  3,700 SF


Project Type:  Private


Services:  Architecture, Planning, Interior Design

2004 – IIDA Southwest Chapter PRIDE Award, First Place Residential  


2004 – IIDA Southwest Chapter PRIDE Award, Best of Show

A series of interconnected, folded roof planes open for light and views as they pass by one another and then extend to capture exterior terraces at each level. The gentle folding of the roof, cascading terraces, and open floor plan lay over the topography of the site, unifying each of the building forms and providing drama as they open and compress the spaces within.  

Punctuations in the block walls are focused towards distant views and selectively frame the landscape. This careful editing of the views permits open connection with the mountain preserve while preserving the intimacy and privacy of the house.  

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