studio 180 degrees design+build veils a home into arizona's red mountains

two steel portals greet the owners of brandaw home

nestled at the base of camelback mountain in phoenix, arizona, the renovated 1960’s brandaw residence by 180 degrees design + build and CBTwo Architects, wraps around the rocky landscape. with the aim to capture the grandeur of the surroundings, a balanced relationship between the street and the architecture is created, manifesting a spatial experience through and around. the large courtyard that greets the owners and guests is complemented by the bright yellow blooms that lead into the secluded indoors.

all images courtesy of 180 degrees design + build

photographs by an pham photography

as the mountain reveals itself, the brandaw home stands like a monolith amongst the rocks. founded in 2001 and based in phoenix, 180 degrees design + build seeks to architect memorable spaces for whoever the user is. in collaboration with CBTwo Architects, the journey in this project begins as the visitor is elevated through the first of two, custom-fabricated steel portals. through the concrete path and ironwood trees, key stopping moments pop-up offering endless views to the landscape. coated in bold marigold color to mimic the desert plants, the second portal then frames the main entry.

the custom-fabricated steel portal leads the visitor through the courtyard

painted in bright yellow to mimic the desert plants, the second portal frames the main entry

the residence maximizes views to the red mountains outdoors

once inside, a simple maneuver around the suspended fireplace points to the roof line tilting upwards to reveal the dynamic vertical face of the mountain. the minimalistic house plays with reconfigurations of space that in turn create opportunities for flexibility – both private and engaging. through the frameless glass windows and sliding doors, views to the backyard are maximized. as the modern expression unravels, intersections between the home’s structural mass and the surrounding scape continue to evolve.

the large windows maximize the views to the outdoors