The Wendell Burnette Architects and the client were both excited by the idea of a large courtyard. For the architects, it was an opportunity to preserve the ancient feeling of the land in a way that would go undisturbed by further development in the area. For the client, it would offer a natural outdoor area with plenty of privacy.

After taking some soil samples, Wendell Burnette Architects found that the house could be built out of local resources gathered during excavation and a nearby river that provides resources for high quality concrete. The materials were combined using the rammed earth construction method and used to pave the floors, create the walls, stacked for stairs, and used for the roof. The result is a home created using local resources and designed to preserve and accentuate the native plant life

Inspired by John Van Dyke’s book The Desert – Further Studies in Natural Appearances, Wendell Burnette Architects designed this home with the two volumes of light that can be found in a desert.

Natural lighting is the main feature of this home. Walls are strategically placed to hide surrounding buildings while leaving the sky and landscape exposed. The living quarters are located above the work and guest areas of the home, giving it a view across the valley all the way to the surrounding mountains and the Phoenix skyline.

Commissioned by the City of Phoenix and designed by Wendell Burnette Architects, the Maryvale Community Center was built in order to increase civic interest in the adjacent 14-acre park. The walls of the first floor are almost entirely glass, allowing full view of the surrounding park and to engage passersby in community.

Parking lots were separated and covered by the native Palo Verde trees. This allows the park to maintain its natural feeling while diminishing urban heat.

Instead of opening the discussion by asking what the couple wanted in their house, the Wendell Burnette Architects started by getting to know their clients on a personal level. They talked for over half an hour just about their pets and came to know who they were and where they came from. Using that knowledge, they were able to expand on what the client told them they wanted in order to create a home unique to them.

The home, hidden away in the desert, was designed to have a beautiful view of the sunset shining on a nearby mountain. Despite the original plan having to be changed due to budget, Burnette was able to redesign the home in a way where elements that normally conflict would instead compliment each other while also bringing costs down.

One of the most iconic castles in the world, Neuschwanstein is the inspiration for the Disney castle and looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. The Romanesque castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

By the time I visited Neuschwanstein in 2014, I had already seen many other castles and forts in Germany. The scale dwarfed all the castles I’d visited previously. The grandeur of every room and hallway seemed straight out of a story book. Neuschwanstein perfectly encapsulates every detail, interior and exterior, of a castle in a child’s fairy tale. During my visit, many of the rooms were closed off for various reasons. Still, the castle is so large that it nearly seemed endless.

This home constructed atop Kehlstein, a mountain in the Alps, was once the property of Adolf Hitler. Nicknamed Eagle’s Nest, the structure has an incredible view over the surrounding lands. The property was rarely used by Hitler since he didn’t trust the elevator used to reach the top of the mountain.

My family visited the location in 2014. While the location and view are supposed to be incredible, my trip was rather fittingly eerie. We entered through the tunnel which was long, damp, and echoed with every step. A polished brass elevator lifted us up to the peak of the mountain where we were met by nothingness. A cloud had rolled over the mountain by the time we reached the top, causing visibility to drop to just a few feet in front of you.

An experience that is meant to be beautiful with a dark history turned out to be entirely ominous. The mountaintop views that typically stretch on for miles were replaced by an endless sea of fog. Standing on the edge of the cliff felt like you were staring off into the River Styx. Given the abundance of beautiful views in the Alps, a trip that would have been unique only for the history became an unforgettable experience.

Located on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, Kisimul Castle was once home to the MacNeils of Barra. My family visited the castle during a summer trip to Scotland. I was surprised when I was told that we’d be going to see our family’s castle. It had never crossed my mind that my family may have had one at one point, even with how prevalent they are in Scotland.

When we arrived, I was more than a little disappointed to see nothing more than a small stone structure sitting in the water. As it turns out, the location was carefully planned. The castle is only accessible during low tide. During high tide, the water rises too high up to disembark safely. The next day, we toured the inside and found that it looks far nicer on the inside than the outside.

Upon passing through the gate, you’re greeted by a small grassy courtyard leading to two small single family homes intended for servants and one large house where the MacNeils once lived. A fourth large building acts as a dining hall. Inside the walls, it feels much larger than it looks from the outside. The courtyard makes it feel cozy and almost seem like a small neighborhood.

Eventually, we discovered that the MacNeils of Barra are from a different clan than us. Regardless, Kisimul Castle was an unexpectedly nice stop on our trip through the Outer Hebrides.

The Rathaus of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, Germany stuck with me more than anywhere else during my time in Europe. Rothenburg is a medieval city that has kept its historical sites well preserved. The original city walls are still in place and can be walked to get a view of the beautiful German landscape. Throughout the city are a number of iconic scenes.

The Rathaus (German for town hall) sits at the center of the city. With various construction projects taking place throughout the centuries, it’s a mix of Gothic and Renaissance style architecture. The contrasting styles, scale, and outdoor forum make the Rathaus stand out from the surrounding buildings. It’s a clear landmark and can be found quickly from most anywhere in the city.

I’ve come back here a few times, and every time it has been enjoyable. The forum is often home to street vendors and large performances that you won’t find anywhere else. With its unique look and centralized location, the Rathaus has become the symbol of my favorite medieval city.