chen + suchart studio embed mummy mountain residence on slope

perched atop a mountain in the sonoran desert of arizona, local practice chen + suchart studio have completed the mummy mountain residence which commands the views over the valley and distant mcdowell mountain range.

the functionality of the house in informed by a series of parallel shifting CMU walls that subdivide the site, directing the spaces towards the dropping landscape. the partitions, while remaining open at the ends also provide a certain level of privacy from the other axis, shielding the living spaces from the adjacent homes. small apertures in these walls offer calculated views of the immediate surroundings creating a dialogue with the near and distant landscapes but also dictate much of the interior circulation. metal stud walls clad in corten standing seam panels and similarly constructed cantilevering canopies infill the CMU walls helping to integrate the structure with the native red-tinged soil. the main level contains all the living spaces as well as the owner’s private quarters. due to their age they wanted to avoid having to scale stairs all day to get to their personal spaces. on the level below there are extra bedrooms that enjoy a certain separation from the rest of the house and therefore more privacy. large expanses of operable glass walls on both the mountain-side and valley-side of the house ensure that each interior space receives plenty of natural light and benefits from natural ventilation.

 

entry made up of many of the materials utilized in the house – concrete, CMU, and metal

 

living and dining rooms with open views over the valley

 

kitchen

 

view into the living room