Client Brief:
A young family wanted a new home that framed Camelback Mountain and supported both family life and frequent gatherings. Cooking, music, and outdoor living were central to their vision, along with flexible spaces for privacy.
Location:
The site sits at the base of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. Its concave property line narrowed the building depth to 20 feet in the center, requiring a layout that captured views without sacrificing flow.
Design Solution:
The design is defined by a large cantilevered roof that tilts upward toward Camelback. It links the front porch, great room, and rear patio into one continuous sequence, framing mountain views at every turn.
Pocketing glass doors open the interiors to both sides, while Gauzy glass technology allows transparency to shift for privacy and energy control. Fire features connect outdoor spaces: a steel fire pit at the entry, a cooking fireplace at the rear patio, and a second fire pit near the primary suite.
Cooking is central. A Bulthaup kitchen links to the outdoor kitchen with a modern Dutch door, placing both near indoor and outdoor dining areas. A detached music studio provides a creative space with a hidden rooftop deck overlooking the valley.
The primary suite anchors the far end of the house, with a bathroom that combines a naturally lit indoor shower and an outdoor shower screened with custom steel slats.
Result:
Big Top centers daily life on a single dramatic gesture: a roof that rises to the mountain and gathers the house beneath it. The design creates openness for cooking, music, and social life while offering quiet zones for retreat.
