The 15-acre plot of land set aside for the desert home community has been subdivided into 18 plots, each almost 1 acre in size. In order to minimize the disturbance on the desert landscape, roads and driveways have been sited discreetly and paved naturallly. Footprints for the homes have been minimized, while outdoor living spaces are maximized to take advantage of the moderate temperatures in the fall, winter and spring. Villas were also oriented to take advantage of the prevailing northwesterly winds for natural ventilation.
As the homes are located in a desert, extreme temperatures are of concern. As such, the villas were designed to take advantage of the sun in the winter, while hiding beneath the shade during the summer. Each single family residence will feature solar roofs, solar passive design with appropriate shading and thermal massing, shaded glazing as well as xeriscaping around the homes. Three different villa designs are organized around their own courtyard, and are well-thought-out extensions of the surrounding landscape.
