Architects: Studio AR&D Architects
Area: 5,300 ft²
Year: 2015
Photography: Michael Utterback
City: Palm Springs
Country: United States
Schnabel Family Retreat, designed by Studio AR&D Architects, is a 5,300 ft² vacation home in Palm Springs, California. The design focuses on fostering family connection and interaction, with dynamic activity zones that blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. The retreat features panoramic views of the mountains, city, and valley, enhanced by corten steel cladding that reflect the natural colors of the desert. Roof gardens and transparent spaces throughout the home further emphasize the connection between indoor and outdoor environments, while landscape elements provide privacy in key areas.
Located on a hillside in Palm Springs, the Schnabel Family Retreat was created to bring a family of five closer together while also serving as a welcoming space for extended family and friends. Studio AR&D Architects designed the home to be enjoyed for generations, balancing communal spaces with private retreats, all while integrating the home into the desert landscape in a thoughtful and harmonious manner.
The design emphasizes dynamic activity spaces, blending the home with its natural surroundings. Perched on a rolling hillside, the house fully engages with 360-degree views of the mountains, city, and valley. The corten steel cladding reacts with the desert minerals, giving it deep red and orange tones that blend into the landscape.
Roof garden further integrate the home into its environment, while the guest house is tucked into the slope to maximize views and connect visually to outdoor areas. Transparency was a key design element, ensuring a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces to harmonize the architecture with the terrain.
The plan also allow for multiple views throughout the 5,300 ft² home, while landscape features like boulders and elevation changes ensure privacy and security in certain areas. The landscape played a fundamental role in shaping the design, influencing every aspect of the plan.
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Project Location
Address: Palm Springs, Riverside, California, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
