LEVIN RESIDENCE
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects
ARCHITECTS
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects
MANUFACTURERS
Cattelan Italia, Fisher & Paykel, Montis
PHOTOGRAPHS
Bill Timmerman
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Harris Engineering Services
MECHANICAL CONSULTANT
Paul Formentini
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
$300/sf
SITE SIZE
2.24 acres
LOCATION
Marana, United States
CATEGORY
Houses
PROJECT YEAR
2009
Text description provided by architect.
Three simple volumes hover above the desert, responding to the challenges of a sloping site and to an ethic of building with minimal disruption to the natural environment.
The available buildable area was bifurcated by a minor drainage-way.
Which inspired the architects to leave the cars behind and link the parking area to the main house by a bridge that allows rainwater and wildlife to flow beneath it.
Cantilevered concrete slabs enabled the house to run perpendicular to the topography for optimal solar exposure.
For cross-ventilation, and to frame views.Meanwhile, the underside provides shady refuge for desert animals.
The tubular forms crop the desert landscape into more intelligible vignettes much like a photographer’s square.
Celebrating the natural setting and view of the city lights the owner did not even realize they had.
