“Creativity and discovery flourish alongside expertise and experience,” is one of the core beliefs of the Rick Joy studio, based in Tucson, Arizona. For twenty years, this cooperative firm has been creating socially engaged architecture that integrates into its surroundings, becoming true scenes of everyday life. Respect for craftsmanship gives rise to a design and materials that respect the local culture.
The Nomad House is a prime example. This family home, located in the arid American desert, is divided into three individual structures to enhance the experience within the spaces and take advantage of the multiple sources of sunlight. These boxes, clad in steel panels, blend into the landscape, promoting a low environmental impact and a balance among the variety of cacti and native plants. “The living space enjoys an intense view to the southeast where the setting sun highlights a large, rugged hill,” explains the studio. “At nightfall, the lights of Tucson emerge. From the bedroom, the rising sun illuminates a breathtaking rock face atop the mountains to the southwest. As for the reflected light, it illuminates the saguaros and ocotillos in the foreground.”
The interiors are on par with the exteriors. Maple wood panels line the spaces where art and sculpture are displayed, illuminated by translucent glass partitions. As for the terrace, which crowns each unit, it completes the success of the Nomad House, allowing its occupants to fully enjoy the desert night sky.
