Remote living

The remote landscape of Southern Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, a rolling expanse of grass-covered alluvial hills peppered with oak trees and manzanitas, although quite picturesque, seems quite inhospitable to build a house on, however Tucson-based architects DUST did just that. Taking advantage of local building techniques and materials, Casa Caldera discretely springs up from the landscape, built as a refuge amid a setting of beautiful wilderness.

The design of the house was driven by both the climatic conditions and the region’s geology. The basin was formed by significant volcanic activity some million years ago as well as its location 15 miles from the Mexican border. With illegal immigrants crossing the border on foot and hunters scouting the range, the brief demanded a structure impenetrable to trespassers as well as one that would withstand the extreme temperatures of the valley while being energy efficient and environmentally friendly.