Showcasing Innovative Tucson Homes
FORS Architecture built this stunning dwelling, owned by Andy and Kami White.
photo: John Bae
In the three years since its inception, Austin-based Modern Home Tours has scoured dozens of cities across the country for the most inventive architectural gems. Of course the next stop had to be Tucson.
“A lot of architects don’t get the ink they deserve for their beautiful work,” says Ken Shallcross, Public Relations guru at Modern Home Tours. He sees the opportunity for these tours to open unique homes to the public to enjoy for one day. The Tucson tour takes place Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after a sister tour in Scottsdale. Participants will get a map for their self-guided drive to the open doors of local modern homes.
Kami and Andy White’s Oro Valley home is part of the circuit. Designed by FORS Architecture, it commands a stunning view of Pusch Ridge. The Whites say it was crucial in the design process to keep their home connected to its environment.
“A great many homes in the desert use a traditional design that turns inward from the heat, at the sacrifice of connecting with the beautiful desert,” they wrote in an email. “By using extensive glass, protected by deep overhangs or shading metal work, the home offers a rarely enjoyed connection to the desert. The ridge top site really screamed for a home with this design approach to fully appreciate the magnificence of the view.”
To keep the view unobstructed, the designers installed a unique fireplace along the floor-to-ceiling windows that span the length of the living room, with no chimney to break the panorama. All around the house, carefully planned windows let in light, so the Whites can watch it shift across the mountains and their home through the day.
“We very much feel a part of the landscape when in the home.”
This property was designed by Kevin Howard with the landscape designed by Allen Denomy of Solana Outdoor Living.
Photo courtesy Solana Outdoor Living
Another home on the tour in Marana was landscaped by Solana Outdoor Living to integrate it into the surroundings, which include the Tortolita Mountains on one side and the Ritz Carlton golf course on the other. The landscape design capitalizes on the sunset views with a full perimeter overflow pool that reflects the sky’s colors on its mirrored surface. A water feature in the front courtyard borrows the same principles.
“We wanted to keep everything rectilinear and timeless, and break it up a little bit so there’s a little asymmetry that balances the elements throughout the property,” explains Solana designer Allen Denomy. Additionally, features on the grounds were installed with water conservation in mind, sloping the contours to make the most of the rain that falls onsite. An irrigation system doles out water precisely when it’s needed. A fence around the property crafted from bent rebar and steel flowers blends to the environment, keeping all eyes up to the view.
With this house, Solana Outdoor Living sought to create a livable space outside, complementary to what’s inside.
“What’s unique about our Tucson climate is the usability of our outdoor living; we have a longer use of our outdoor space, and it’s become an important place to develop and customize.”
While the final lineup for Tucson’s Modern Home Tour wasn’t solidified as of press time, due to December’s holidays, it will be sure to include the work of local artists and architects that show off not just the houses, but equally the land they reside upon.
The Modern Home Tour is Sunday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $25 online in advance, $30 day of. Discount packages are available if combined with the Scottsdale Home Tour on Jan. 18. Visit ModernHomeTours.com/Event/Tucson for more details or ring 1-888-611-6882.
