RIVER HOUSE - ARIZONA
Size: <1 acre. Single family home with RV garage and boat port.
Objective: Design an efficient living program for 2 part-time residents with indoor and outdoor spaces for a large RV and trailered boats, cars, etc.
Challenges/Opportunities: A modestly sized lot that protrudes into the Colorado River. Harsh western sun and wind of the desert climate. Private neighborhood boat ramp adjacent.
Solution: A boat port with semi-permeable surface provides an area for boats and desert vehicles to be hosed off and staged. The port doubles as a mass transition between the on-grade adjacent land and the 2-story elements of the living areas and RV garage. The living spaces open to the river to the North and East protected from the harsh South and West exposures. A reverse floor plan with the great room and kitchen on the second floor maximizes views while providing a lofted feeling above the busy river boat action.
What is “different”: The shell is designed with Omniblock, an insulated CMU product. The exterior and interior finishes are the block surface giving the house a low-maintenance “hose it down” quality for the part-time owners. The boat port is enclosed by a skeletal steel structure wrapped in perforated metal panels. This protects the area from direct sun while staying airy.
Deliverables: Photo-realistic flyover animation with geo-referenced terrain and placement of important surrounding natural and man-made landmarks. Construction documents generated in Revit with close collaboration of sub-contractors to ensure price and execution objectives.
