Sunny Acres Residence | Moab, UT
Our clients came to us with this site set amidst the beauty of the desert landscape and surrounded by panoramic views . When we first visited the site we were awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the surrounding landscape. The red rock cliffs and the beautiful valleys and canyons that lie between create a setting that is both stunning and magnificent to behold. Watching the sun rise and set over the sandstone walls surrounding the site brings a sense of peace and solitude to behold.
The orientation of the house on the site aligns with the sun’s path. The long axis of the house is focused to the east on the point where the sun rises over the La Sal mountains and to the west where the sun sets over the southern Utah cliffs. The common living, cooking and dining space of the house is located within this volume, allowing occupants to experience the sunlight as it moves through the space throughout the day. The southern wall is set in under the deep overhang of the roof that provides shade in the hottest months and is punctuated with a series of glass doors and windows that open onto the natural desert landscape. The windows within this space are designed to provide connection to the landscape and the distant panoramic views. There is a hidden loft set at the top of the volume accessed by a simple ladder that provides an ideal space for reading and reflection. The bedrooms and bathrooms are all aligned along the lower north side of the house that has smaller horizontal windows to create a view portals while retaining a sense of intimacy and privacy.
The material selected as cladding for the large exterior extruded roof form is a natural steel panel that is allowed to rust on the surface, creating a patina and pattern that references the red-orange sandstone cliffs. Weathered wood boards are placed around the doors and windows providing a similar but softer texture in the areas where one enters the house. The concrete floor slab is continuous from the interior to the exterior to reinforce the sense of continuity from inside to outside.
The garage building, designed as a similar volume as the main house and was clad in the same patina steel panels.
We were so pleased to work with the talented staff at City Home Collective who did the Interior Design and photography, and with Eco Logic Design-Build, the general contractor, who meticulously built and executed the details of this project.
Sustainable Features:natural day-lighting, natural ventilation, radiant floor heating, passive solar design