Located in Nevada along the western most point of the Las Vegas Valley, abutting untouched, federally protected land, the site benefits from unobstructed views. The clients, a family of nature enthusiasts, sought an environmentally conscious home with a direct relationship to its site to function as a base camp for their active lifestyle.
In response, the residence is an open structure, organized into three layers, which radiate from a communal nucleus to a periphery of more intimate and private zones. The layout is designed to be compact and clustered, making the program readable as a series of connected rock masses emerging from the earth.
Each volume is carefully placed to maximize views of the surrounding landscape, while mitigating the harsh effects of the desert sun and wind. The building pays homage to the old fort structures from the early settlement days of Las Vegas, which relied upon site-sourced materials along with tried-and-true techniques for building in an arid climate.
Seeking a sustainable place to connect with the natural surroundings, our design created experiential spaces for family gathering. Fort 137 was designed to allow occupants to feel embedded in their surroundings. Windows in every room – including bathrooms and closets – provide access to natural light, air, and expansive views, while deconstructing the physical and perceived barrier between indoors and out by extending the living spaces beyond the architectural perimeter into the landscape.
Ecological preservation was integral to the design using massing and materials from the land to blend the structure with the site. Transparent halls and pocket gardens allow the desert to spill into the home while creating more thermally stable spaces. A view frame cut into the courtyard wall acts as a portal to the desert outside the walls allowing the natural environment to take center stage.
