Dovetailing with the desert

Designed by Daniel Joseph Chenin

From the design studio:

This desert oasis on the edge of the Las Vegas Valley, by Daniel Joseph Chenin design studio, offers panoramic views of surrounding Red Rock Canyon, and borders government-protected land.

Commissioned for a family embracing an active lifestyle of immersive environmental experiences, the firm was tasked with creating a home that would be contemporary and warm, yet seamlessly blend into the rugged beauty of its natural surroundings. 

In addition to an interior programme that included a primary suite, a secondary suite, three additional bedrooms, and a large communal living and dining space, the 15-month build prioritised an external focus that includes an entry rotunda, a shaded courtyard, and a view frame overlooking the surrounding landscape.

The owner is from out of state, and we were selected for our ability to provide a complete turnkey project, says Daniel Joseph Chenin, lead architect and founder of the firm bearing his name. 

“We provided all of the architecture and interior design, right down to the design, selection, procurement, and installation of the furniture, fixtures, and accessories.”

The home's entry rotunda characterises the firm’s experiential approach, with a modern interpretation paying homage to the old fort structures of early settlements that once dotted the desert landscape of the Las Vegas Valley. 

The rotunda, rising 8.5m, serves as a transition between the external desert heat and the cooler interior, with a conical shape that contrasts with the straight lines of the living spaces. 

Upon entering the rotunda, the sound of running water from the lower level’s stone fountain transitions mindsets from the arid desert heat to one of a cooling desert mirage, while a winding staircase provides access to a rooftop lounge outfitted with a firepit and expansive desert views.

“In researching architecture that addresses the hot and arid climate of the southwest, it took us back to some of the settlement structures of the pioneers of the 1800s,” says Chenin. 

“The idea of a stacked, rock structure, similar to forts designed by the settlers of the time, really resonated.”

After a cool respite, the rotunda ushers you back into the desert climate of an internal courtyard that transitions across the blurred lines that blend the home into its surrounding natural environment. 

The transition from the external desert to the home’s interior begins with a fully enclosed, shaded courtyard area that is ideal for family meals and gatherings, set against a backdrop that includes a 75,000kg boulder that was excavated from the site. 

Inside the home, two dually purposed flanking walls run from north to south, providing protection against external elements, while also defining the boundaries of the layout. 

Between the walls, gathering spaces include a large lounge area and dining room, a kitchen, an office, and a theatre room, while more intimate spaces, including the bedrooms, are located on the outer sides of the walls.

The desert home's living spaces are laid out in three complementary volumes, each designed to maximise comfort, efficiency, and ambiance. 

Within a steel frame and stone walls, sliding glass panel walls, 11.5m long by 4m high, provide panoramic views from both the north and south facades. 

The glass walls serve multiple purposes and are positioned to provide cross-ventilation and to draw abundant sunlight into an interior designed with angular precision to offer protection against the harshest occurrences of desert sun and wind.

The central flow of the interior’s open living and dining area gives way to an adjoining sub-set of more intimate and private zones, including bedrooms and servicing areas. 

Each space, from its orientation to its comforts, is designed for tranquil moments alone, or for quiet moments spent with guests.

The modest luxury of the modern interior is framed by travertine floors, stucco ceilings, and reconstituted wood veneer vertical panels, providing a warm embrace for the curated furnishings and art selections of Daniel Joseph Chenin. 

Stone, wood, and brass details are abundant, including on the interior’s custom door handles and detailed cabinetry.

“The project is robust and rough on the outside, and refined and detailed on the inside,” says Daniel Joseph Chenin. 

“However, the lines are blurred by the singular vision of each element, including the mimicking of colours and textures that reflect the surrounding context of the Red Rock mountains.”

In addition to hitting its mark as an integrated oasis of comfort and serenity in the desert valley, this home was built with limited environmental impacts. 

Daniel Joseph Chenin incorporated numerous design strategies into the project to offset the home’s carbon footprint and reduce its dependence on the grid, including a photovoltaic panel infrastructure and ballast roofing that complement other design elements along with passive cooling, thermal mass, and radiant heating.

Other sustainable considerations include a reconstituted wood veneer derived from the bi-product and waste of a sawmill, as well as locally sourced materials, and constructively repurposed rocks and earth extracted from the building site. 

Furthermore, materials including weathered steel, hot rolled steel, and travertine were procured for their ability to age and patina with the desert sands of time, adding further colour and textures to a built environment destined to integrate even deeper into its natural surroundings.

Story by: Trendsideas