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The total immersion in nature is underlined, in a continuum of sorts, through the use of the same dark-coloured tile flooring which couples the major intimacy of the interiors with the bright outdoors, as is usually present in Arizona. A real unitary factor of the project is that the tiles proceed from the lower level car park even into the elevator, continue upstairs through the open-plan living room and end up in the contiguous patio suspended out to the horizon. Thanks to the choice of a single variety of tile able to function equally well indoors and out, the architect obtained the effect of remarkable enlargement of the space as well as smoothing out the transition between levels and different functional spaces of the building.
This solution responds to another important design need: to accommodate harmoniously in the same environment the customers’ contemporary art collection, their living necessities and a strong exterior landscape. Everything should be done, if possible, without overloading too much the whole. Because all these elements have strong identity, we should acknowledge that it was a tough challenge.
The choice of a single ceramic material, however, succeeded in resolving possible clashes on an aesthetic level and made an excellent neutral basis available to the collection pieces and to the interiors’ heavy primary colours. In this way it preserved the characteristics of the ‘family nest’, recalling on one hand a series of warm values, such as safety, reliability, and on the other hand respecting the need for the landlords to express their own tastes and passions.
Few basic materials, in general, characterise the whole project and concur to communicate an essential impression of simplicity. The exterior has been made in glass, steel and E.F.I.S. (Exterior Insulation Finish System), a primary synthetic product. A neutral covering used also in art galleries, on the contrary, has covered the internal walls. “The inky or obsidian dark flooring - observes Johnson - integrates itself very well with the structure’s steel framework and endless black glass. The ceramic material stands up to the elements—harsh desert wind and searing sun— but performs well also in wet areas like the garage, laundry, and pool which require a no-slip surface." |
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