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.

Designer(s): Sadie Morgan, dRMM Architects

Rundeskogen is located on a wooded hill on the west coast of Norway, and actually had some site boundary restrictions that had to do with a Viking grave site. So I thought that was pretty cool. Also, seeing more timber/concrete construction gaining a foothold in the industry is a positive thing no doubt.

At first glance, it felt to me like there is no way these buildings exist, especially not as apartment buildings. The uniqueness of the towers, along with their structural complexity, makes it feel futuristic to me. But, at the same time, the copper/brass-tinted facade gives it a retro, almost historic feel. Regardless, this structure was designed with sustainability in mind, as every building should be (i.e. covered outdoor spaces, personal indoor gardens, solar power, etc.).