Philosophy
Contextual Architecture
We believe that good creative architecture can and must come from a response to the immediate context of a project, whether it is an urban, suburban, contemporary, or historic setting. We don’t have a particular “style” that we work in and do not have a preconceived design in mind when starting a project. Instead, we meet with the clients, analyze the context, and get to work designing a project that works for its given location and the people that will inhabit the space.
Desert Architecture
We design buildings that look and feel like they belong in the desert. Unlike most of the country, the Sonoran Desert’s most challenging season is summer, so we give great attention to how our buildings perform during this time. Through the use of passive solar strategies, material selections, natural ventilation, and shade, we can mitigate the summer sun. Although our region has extremely hot summers, the climate is comfortable enough most of the year to incorporate patios, courtyards, and “outdoor rooms” into our projects whenever we can. These spaces create relief in the built environment and allow us to interact with nature.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
We have been incorporating “green” design principles and elements in our projects long before the notion became popular. In an effort to responsibly address our regional environmental challenges, we have employed various wall-building techniques such as adobe, straw bale, rammed earth, and insulated concrete form systems. We have also incorporated passive solar concepts, active solar systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater harvesting systems, and greywater systems. In addition, we have explored new materials with recycled content such as tiles made with recycled glass, roof shingles made with used automobile tires, and insulation made from recycled denim jeans. Our firm strives to stay current with new innovations in design and construction techniques, and a large component of our design process includes educating our clients on the possibilities that are available to them so they can make informed decisions.
Functional Architecture
We take a great deal of effort to create functional, common sense architecture. We believe that if a design is imminently functional, it will also be the most usable, enjoyable, and cost-effective solution for the inhabitants of the project.