Spectacular modern home embraces the desert landscape

Copper Sky Residence is an impressive custom home designed for a family of five by Swabuck Partners, nestled into the side of a rocky hill in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The architects design was guided by the clients love for outdoor living and the inherent qualities that the surrounding native desert landscaping has to offer. The deep roof slopes conform to the slope of the mountain and cantilevered terraces help to mitigate the home’s imprint on the property.

The use of desert colors and textures helps to blend the home into the landscape. The municipality would not allow a three-story structure, so the garage was ingeniously tucked underneath the main living floor, while the master suite occupies the top floor. Boulders were applies to the sides of the retaining walls along the driveway to create the appearance that it was carved out of the hillside.

The 19,000 square foot home sits on five acres with four bedrooms, which includes a guest house with one bedroom and one bathroom. The interior spaces were designed by interior design firm David Michael Miller Associates. The interiors of the home take full advantage of the natural light and the surrounding views and blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior. The indoor and outdoor spaces range from soaring and open to small and intimate.

The entry terrace leads from the garage level up to the front door. The guest house is on the right side of this image.

The entry door has been constructed of 5-inch-thick mahogany panels that floats between layers of laminated glass. A grid of 21 panels of onyx appears to float above the entryway.

Large cantilevers offer shade from the Arizona sun, keeping the house cooler and creating terraces.

The great room features a grid of Fossil Creek flagstone flooring.

Comfortable and casual dining room, yet simple and elegant.

The kitchen picks up on a darker desert palette that includes Red Dragon granite and Wingate black cabinetry.

Cozy, quiet home office.

The master bedroom retreat features an incredible view to the mountains as well as city lights in the distance. To take advantage of the view, a motorized 12-foot x 15-foot door opens to a private terrace with a fire pit.

Upstairs, a sitting area in the master suite makes the top floor its own retreat.

Master bedroom sitting area, with indoor / outdoor appeal, and drastic city views.

A bedroom opens to a mountain terrace and abuts 12-foot by 18-foot boulders.

Spa-like bathroom set right up against the mountain.

Well-placed boulders cleverly conceal an outdoor shower, providing privacy yet keeping the open-air feeling.

The hillside was reconstructed to support a waterfall with a geotech mesh for safety, boulders were brought in and moved to cover it.

The designers made sure that the tint of the patio’s concrete matched the landscape.

A waterfall flows down from the top of the hill, giving the illusion that it flows under the back patio, is brought through the house and terminates at this fountain.

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