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Contemporary House With A Unique Floor Plan And A Huge Roof Canopy

By Simona Ganea | Published on

A lot of modern and contemporary residences feature a seamless transition between their indoor and outdoor spaces but rarely as efficiently and as naturally as this Hidden Valley Desert House designed by Wendell Burnette Architects. This residence located in Cove Creek, US was designed like a long pavilion, incorporating a series of volumes dispersed within the layout and complemented by shaded outdoor spaces, all connected under a continuous and unusually large canopy hovering over a plinth.

The residence offers panoramic views of the Phoenix Valley to the west and the mountain ranges to the southView in gallery
The residence offers panoramic views of the Phoenix Valley to the west and the mountain ranges to the south
The unusually large and expansive roof canopy is made of stainless steel and hide all the mechanism that make this house sustainableView in gallery
The unusually large and expansive roof canopy is made of stainless steel and hide all the mechanism that make this house sustainable
The main floor plan is open in all directions and offers beautiful views of the surroundings both from indoor and outdoorView in gallery
The main floor plan is open in all directions and offers beautiful views of the surroundings both from indoor and outdoor

The South orientation of the building reveals distant views to the Phoenix Valley, the Continental Mountain and additional mountain ranges. In total, the residence features 2000 square feet or indoor spaces and 1000 square feet of fully shaded outdoor spaces. They communicate freely and naturally, all gathered under a continuous roof. The lower level of the structure is a cave-like section which contrasts with the main level which is open in all directions. Concrete walls and decks divide and connect the volumes, creating a unique layout shaped by the views and the needs of the inhabitants.

A series of concrete and glass walls and dividers ensures a seamless and practical distribution of the spacesView in gallery
A series of concrete and glass walls and dividers ensures a seamless and practical distribution of the spaces
The residence features a series of photovoltaic panels on the roof, framed and hidden by the steel canopyView in gallery
The residence features a series of photovoltaic panels on the roof, framed and hidden by the steel canopy
All the indoor and outdoor spaces are dispersed between the plinth and the canopy, forming a fluid floor planView in gallery
All the indoor and outdoor spaces are dispersed between the plinth and the canopy, forming a fluid floor plan
Full-height windows and glass walls and sliding doors frame the panoramic views and connect the volumesView in gallery
Full-height windows and glass walls and sliding doors frame the panoramic views and connect the volumes
The interior design of the residence is simple and modern, featuring a pleasant mixture of finishes and texturesView in gallery
The interior design of the residence is simple and modern, featuring a pleasant mixture of finishes and textures
The color and material palette is generally simple and reduced to a few neutrals with a few accent details scattered across the spacesView in gallery
The color and material palette is generally simple and reduced to a few neutrals with a few accent details scattered across the spaces
the fireplace is an important feature, having unusually large proportions and playing a dominant role in the decorView in gallery
the fireplace is an important feature, having unusually large proportions and playing a dominant role in the decor
The sloping site dictated a two-level structure, the lower level being a cave-like volume that blends in with the landView in gallery
The sloping site dictated a two-level structure, the lower level being a cave-like volume that blends in with the land
The palette of materials used throughout the project include natural and simple selections such as concrete, stone and woodView in gallery
The palette of materials used throughout the project include natural and simple selections such as concrete, stone and wood
All the interior spaces have access to outdoor areas thanks to the unique layout of the buildingView in gallery
All the interior spaces have access to outdoor areas thanks to the unique layout of the building
The shaded outdoor areas function as extensions of the indoor living spacesView in gallery
The shaded outdoor areas function as extensions of the indoor living spaces
The stainless steel canopy extends enough to shade the decks and terraces and to offer protection against the elementsView in gallery
The stainless steel canopy extends enough to shade the decks and terraces and to offer protection against the elements