When thinking about considerate design and my three questions, house as an environmental filter, house as a container for human activity and house as a delight I couldn't sum it up any better than the architect himself.
"The gravel path to the house crunches beneath your feet. Through the garden of barrel cactuses that appear to be standing guard, one descends into a courtyard by way of stair wedged between the two retaining walls. From here an oasis unfolds; cool dark shaded areas, the sound of water trickling, humming birds, the smell of sage and flowers, reflections. The courtyard provides relief from the overwhelming expansive setting while the two buildings frame a cropped view of Tumacacaori Peak, a clients favourite."
It is this statement which for me answers all my questions, such thoughtful yet very similarly to the Gold Coast House, a different way of thinking which has resulted in a marvel. Tubac house is located in the desert of Arizona which has impacted heavily on its design. Architect Rick Joy had the challenge of designing to a climate which most people don't live in, as well as designing to the needs of the client. The house has been designed with such a simple form; open space, clean lines, solid materials, a plant here, a small pool there yet when all of these are combined it forms what is actually a smart and sophisticated project. It seems that simplicity was the main idea with Joy not wishing to "over do it with pompous decor and irrelevant design", instead focusing on surreal views that surrounded the house. By doing this he was able make a design which blended with its surroundings yet also slightly deviated too. Tubac House can only best be described as a journey, a house someone would never get bored living in, despite it being in an area where nothing but the occasional tumbleweed rolling by and thunderstorms occur.
As an environmental filter the house operates very efficiently. Given that walls are made of rammed earth and sustainable local materials this means the house has a small footprint. The rammed earth walls provide ample protection from the climatic extremes of the desert (very cool nights, hot dry days). The house has been designed with large voids and open spaces to allow for maximum amount of ventilation to circulate through, cooling the house. Another factor throughout the house is Joy's use of overhanging box windows which are in carefully selected locations and frame the specific views of lighting storms and distant mountain ranges.
As a container of human activity, Tubac house does exactly what it needs to, making the clients very happy. Spatially the house has been designed using a flexible open plan, which means most public spaces are very versatile and serve many purposes. This is another design which has employed the use of control lines well. Movement within the house is easy yet there is still a gradient of public to private, so the owners have been respected. Given the owners are very keen astrologers, Joy has implicated the use of large viewing areas that have direct access with the sky. Most probably more of an environmental filter, yet materials also factors into human activity. Joy has used coarse and raw materials for the exterior, yet has contrasted this by using steel, plaster and glass as interior materials yet also as an escape from the harsh surroundings.
It seems that the house as a delightful experience is really indicative of all the aspects mentioned above. The fact that Joy has explored all the pure and simple pleasures architecture can offer is what makes this project delightful. From the most minute detail of strategically placed pools of water, which reflect/continue the landscape throughout the design, to the larger, mystifying rustic facade which is hidden amongst the landscape, it seems everything has been thought of. The design is honest, despite a lot of dust and reflections this house definitely is not smoke and mirrors, yet a simple pleasure to occupy.
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