Discreet Desert Eco Homes Planned for the Mojave Desert

A new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/california-desert-home-uses-passive-ventilation-techniques/" target="_blank">desert home</a> community has been planned for La Quinta, CA in the Mojave Desert, just outside of Palm Springs. The rich desert landscape covered in spiny <a href="http://inhabitat.com/taalman-koch-ithouse-joshua-tree/" target="_blank">Joshua Trees</a> will continue to be respected in this new discreet eco-community. Designed by <a href="http://p-ar.com/index.php?/projects/palm-springs-housing/" target="_blank">Platform for Architecture + Research</a>, 18 homes will be constructed to fit within the natural topology, carefully minimizing any environmental disturbances. Each home has been designed for the hot desert climate of the Mojave and includes solar shading, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/solar-power" target="_blank">solar power</a>, natural ventilation, xeriscaping and more.

The 15-acre plot of land set aside for this desert home community has been subdivided into 18 plots, each almost 1 acre in size. In order to minimize disturbance to the desert landscape, roads and driveways have been sited discreetly and paved naturally.

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 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 and hide beneath shade during the summer.

The 15-acre plot is subdivided and planned to sit as naturally as possible within the landscape in an attempt to minimize disturbances, both physical and visual.

Three different villa designs are organized around their own courtyard, and are in synch with the surrounding landscape.

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.

The floorplan of Villa Y.

Here is the diagram for the Villa Y typology.