A postmodern desert hideaway lists outside Phoenix for $2.3m

Photography: Bill Timmerman

In the arid exurbs of Phoenix, this newish three-bedroom contemporary villa presents an opportunity to live and work in a contemporary monolith, faced with hand-applied plaster and stainless steel that reflects the big sky. Designed by Wendell Burnette in 2017, the floating pavilion sits on five cactus-studded acres, open to views of the Continental Mountains.

The architect introduced high-spec materials to the interior and exterior of the Arizona property, including cold-rolled mill-finished steel, ebonised MDF, sustainable resin-infused paper, coloured felt panels and vermiculite-embedded stucco. Communal spaces include a custom chef’s kitchen and adjacent dining terrace, and a great room with a coordinating A/V wall. A discreet meditation room has its own koi pond, leading to a principal bedroom and ensuite with a Japanese soaking tub. There are two additional bedrooms on the lower level, plus an office space and exercise room.

The reflective volume creates a canopy for the south-facing terrace and east-side fire pit, which step down into a protected pet run, koi ponds and paths through wild nature.

Solar orientation and photovoltaic panels, plus cooling concrete and strategically placed windows, make the sculptural home an eco-friendly proposition. It’s currently on the market with AZ Real Estate for $2.295m.

Photography: Bill Timmerman

A postmodern desert hideaway lists outside Phoenix for $2.3m

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