Client Brief:
A family that included a ceramic artist wanted a home that could serve both daily life and creative work. They asked for spaces that supported food production, outdoor living, and entertainment, while also offering privacy within the city.
Location:
The property is a large urban lot in central Phoenix. The desert climate demanded protection from heat and sun, along with materials that could age well over time.
Design Solution:
The design draws from the character of pottery: solid yet adaptable, precise in form yet rich in texture. The house is arranged in three volumes: living, sleeping, and utility. These volumes form a central courtyard that provides privacy, shade, and a strong indoor-outdoor flow.
The courtyard includes a dining terrace, outdoor kitchen, sunken fire pit, olive grove, and a pool with a Baja shelf and hot tub. Food production is built into the landscape with citrus groves, stone fruit, raised beds, and a chicken coop.
Materials were chosen for strength and character. Board-formed concrete, rusted corrugated metal, hand-troweled stucco, steel, and glass define the exterior. Inside, warmth comes from wood elements, including a dining table and stair treads crafted from a fallen tree on the property.
Double-height and vaulted ceilings shape the interiors, with a board-formed concrete fireplace as a vertical anchor. A loft offers mountain views, while the pottery studio and children’s rooms are designed for natural light and creative use.
Result:
Foo is a family home shaped by craft and climate. Its courtyard is the heart of daily life, connecting living, growing, and making. The house is built to endure desert conditions while reflecting the character of its owners through materials, spaces, and details tied to their story.
