The High Life

Author and photographer not credited on article
Phoenix Home & Garden
Special Edition 2015
pp. 128-133

A Complex Mountain Build Rewards With Soaring Architecture And Unparalleled Valley Views

BUILDING A NEW HOME on any mountain can be challenging. And building on a rocky mountain in Scottsdale can be downright difficult. But numerous boulder outcroppings didn't deter architect James Hann, especially after seeing the location’s raw beauty and jaw-dropping views. “The two most significant things that drove design decisions for this home were the lot itself and the views,” he says.

According to interior designer Tony Sutton, most people would pass on such a building site because of the level of difficulty and the extra costs and limitations that go with it. “But the challenge causes solutions one would not come up with otherwise,” he points out. “Hann took advantage of view corridors from every room, from every direction. Multiple levels were necessary to work up and down the mountain slope. Builder Dan Couturier took on the challenge to make it a reality.”

Also tackling the challenging project were landscape architect Donna Winters and pool and water feature designer Steve Oliver. “The entire team worked hand-in-hand to design and fit this house into a desert Southwest setting and maintain the integrity of the site,” says Couturier. The result is a home that “blends contemporary design with Southwest materials to give a warm, unique quality,” he adds.

Composed primarily of stone, stucco, glass and steel, the angular split­level residence wraps around the rock outcroppings. A series of rectangular stacked-stone columns on a radius defines the various spaces and heightens visual interest, while large expanses of glass bring in the views, notes Hann. He points out that in addition to helping blend the home into the site, the stone pillars create a natural shading effect on the butt-glazed, tinted safety- glass panels, thereby reducing heat gain. “We have to react to our climate here, respond to the heat of the un, blend with the surroundings,” he says.

Pairs of rusted-steel horizontal beams help support the glass and break up the height in the main living space, while a tarnished copper fascia surrounds the flat-roofed areas, creating a rustic feel with a nod to the Copper State.

The drama continues beyond the custom art-glass entry door. Visible through a curved window wall in the foyer is a naturally landscaped courtyard featuring a striking main waterfall, along with several mini waterfalls and a stream that flows into the swimming pool. “We created an interior oasis with its own little microclimate,” says Hann. “There’s even a fire pit tucked into one end of the boulder outcropping on a patio near the pool.”

A similar expanse of glass behind the bathtub in the master bathroom allows the waterfalls to be enjoyed from that room as well. “The use of the boulders and the landscaping with the water features creates a stunning backdrop,” Couturier remarks.

The home also features an open living area on the main level, an upstairs game room and bar with two decks, a lower-level master suite and exercise room, and multiple patios.

According to Sutton, the intent of the interior design was to “create a timeless contemporary interpretation of desert living that is both welcoming and friendly, yet sophisticated and inspiring.” He adds, “There is an amalgamation of historic regional design elements, organic desert materials and contemporary interpretation blended into many custom-designed furniture pieces.” Sutton also included the same exposed natural-stone veneers used on the exterior, along with natural stone and wood floors, hand­troweled Venetian plaster walls and rusted-steel handrails.

“The sign that you’ve done something well is when the owners are discovering something new even after they have lived in the house for awhile,” Hann says. “Seeing the way the light changes at different times of the day and year is a continuing source of joy for them.” ■