This house looks like an organic object in the desert, and its exterior is really unique – who could think it’s a home? This fantastic swelling nestled among the rocky terrain of Joshua Tree, California, was designed by Kendrick Bangs Kellogg and the sweeping interiors were done by designer John Vugrin.
The house takes the form of an organic object made up of a cluster of sculptural piers. There is an ambiguous relationship between the built space and the extreme landscape as the house navigates between the protruding rock formations. At certain moments these natural elements pierce through to the interior and become a sculptural element of the conditioned space. The ambiguity of the structure is heightened with the imbrication of the clustered piers. because of this technique of overlapping elements, the building’s apertures are not so clearly defined. While these moments of slippage are sealed with set back glazing, there is an implication that the house is left open to the elements.
The interiors take inspiration from the landscape and highlight the architecture of the house as much as possible. There’s much wood, stone, glass and metal and all the designs were created right for this house. How do you like a scorpion-inspired dining table or a fireplace integrated into the architectural detail of the house? My favorite space is the master bedroom, which keeps privacy while showing off the desert views. Outside there’s a terrace with a dining space and a waterfall, the landscaping is traditional for these places: stones and cacti.