Strusiner Residence

By building the main house on the existing ridge, close to the street, and a separate two-story guest cottage on the opposite boundary, the plan claims the desert wash as a private area in the middle of the property.

Backing to the golf course, the taller guest cottage minimizes the visual impact of the neighbor’s garage and provides privacy from the golf course. More importantly from the owners’ perspective, it offers a resort experience for winter visitors. The privacy of the main living rooms is protected from the street by an elevated portico of stone columns that frame perspectives of the desert.

From the parking area, the entry is enriched by a 40-foot long fountain and flagstone seating wall that leads to the stair landing. The steel and glass doors and continuity of flooring blur the line between inside and out. Cantilevered from the masonry stair wall, the steel stair treads create a playful pattern of shadows. The sequence of spaces extends from the entry through to the family patio, where views expand beyond the wash and the lap pool to distant city lights.