Red Rock

2024 Design Awards Citation Recipient

Las Vegas, Spanish for “The Meadows”, sits in the Great Basin of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada and Wasatch Mountains. The landscape is diverse with alpine, riparian meadow and desert environments.

The clients, a couple with four children, requested a focus on accommodation for extended family, multiple spaces to gather, along with the ability to open the house completely to the natural landscape. The site is a three- quarter acre subdivision parcel with views of the lights of The Strip to the east and Red Rock Canyon to the west. Temperatures range from 30 degrees F to 115 degrees F with cold dry winters and harsh, hot summers with monsoon rainstorms. Strong winds come from the south and west. Protection from the sun and wind as well as privacy shaped formal direction and materiality for the house.

A half buried concrete ground form repeats the behavior of the desert spareness. A wind and sun protected court to the east is passively cooled by an elevated basin of water. Openings below water emit light to the lower level. Additional daylighting gestures including an open to the sky sunken court, spaced decking, and steps to the west with open risers further pierce the form with light and air. The living area opens with motorized, pocketing glass doors that allow the space to connect the front courtyard to the west terrace.

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A great example of architects creating a complex and rich layered experience from an incredibly edited palette of materials and form making. This project demonstrates mastery of materiality, shade, shadow, and scale of space.

//framework for design excellence measures

Measure 1: Design for Integration

The built form represents a conceptual search for an experience driven, built environment that repeats the behavior of the desert spareness in material and form. One half of the living area is earth sheltered below grade, ventilated and lit with openings in the structure. A reflective roof, 33 KW photovoltaic array connected to the grid, high efficiency glazing, mechanical and lighting systems mitigate energy use for the mass heavy form. The upper level is screened in perforated weathering steel, a nod to the iron oxide within the distant Red Rock Canyon. 23% open operable screens slide and hinge to shade glazing.

Most importantly, the simple architecture forms a dimensionally stable, wind protected court that exactly doubles the plan of the living area. Passively cooled by an elevated basin of water, the court becomes part of the living area when doors are retracted.

Measure 2: Design for Equitable Communities

A few ways the project improves the community and natural landscape are by utilizing native and drought tolerant landscape, a 33 kW photovoltaic array, passive heating and cooling, and locally sourced materials to mimic the colors and textures of the desert, Additionally, almost half of the built area is below grade helping the visual impact in the development.

Measure 3: Design for Ecosystems

The landscape design is a site repair effort due to the mass grading of the site by the developer. Driven first by drainage and erosion control, native plantings revegetate the site similar to its previous condition. Careful observation of the surrounding native desert and locally available, low water usage vegetation drove plant selections. Native Canyon Live oaks screen the house and terrace from west sun and wind and connect with the interior white oak finishes.

Measure 4: Design for Water

Any form of rainwater/greywater reclamation is prohibited by ordinance by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Rainwater here is directed to rain stores that recharge the aquifer. Careful observation of the surrounding native desert and locally available, low water consumption vegetation drove plant selections. Plantings repeat the behavior of the desert in their selection and spareness, reinforcing the desert atmosphere and frugal use of water. Setting the distant view of the city profile on the water call out its ephemeral nature and frugal use of water.

Measure 5: Design for Economy

The owners requested a large home that accommodated not only their immediate family but their parents who were unable to buy a home in the area, there are 3 generations living under the same roof. Additionally, instead of adding additional square footage (and in turn cost) for large gatherings, the wind sheltered exterior spaces in both the front and back yard allow the home to entertain guests upwards of 150 people.

Measure 6: Design for Energy

12″ thick concrete wall assemblies build thermal mass into the earth sheltered structure. Deep overhangs at exterior glazing provide summer shading and winter solar access. Orientation of the building buffers south sun and creates shaded and wind protected outdoor areas. 23% open, perforated steel screens separated from the building envelope shade the sleeping areas and reduce solar heat gain. A 33KW photovoltaic system provides renewable energy. A white roof membrane reflects heat gain.

Measure 7: Design for Well-Being

Protection from the sun and wind, durability, and privacy requirements, shaped formal direction, and materiality for the house. Almost half of the built area is below grade, ventilated and lit with openings in the structure that provide occupants with fresh air and natural light. The client also requested all low VOC finishes throughout due to sensitivities.

The main level living area completely opens to east and west. Daylight analysis and modeling was completed.

Measure 8: Design for Resources

The primary structural system is a mix of concrete, steel, and engineered lumber. A locally sourced sand and gravel mix design is utilized. Concrete floors and walls, in the harsh desert light, take on a buff hue that associates with the distant mountains, rising from below grade to build a habitable landscape. Additionally, ASTM C168 Class F fly ash was used for up to 25% cement replacement in concrete mix. Steel framing was analyzed and organized efficiently using 3D modeling across the consultant teams.

Measure 9: Design for Change

The subterranean habitable space is responsive to the harsh desert climate which continues to intensify each year. Almost half of the built area is below grade, ventilated, and lit with openings in the structure to introduce sunlight, including several submerged under the basin’s water level. A reflective roof, 33 KW photovoltaic array, and high-efficiency glazing, mechanical, and lighting systems further mitigate energy use, especially during the extreme temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and greater experienced in Las Vegas.

Measure 10: Design for Discovery

Inhabited since completion in 2022, the clients have provided feedback on the functionality of the house. The consultant team has worked together to improve mechanical performance and has been reminded of the importance of careful oversight during the construction phase.

The various openings and penetrations that allow light and air to penetrate the excavated form are surprising. Setting the basin to eye level at the entry allows a brief view across the surface of the water along the prolonged entry sequence.