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United States Tuscon Arizona Latitude/Longitude withheld studio Rick Joy Architect 400 S. Rubio Ave 85701 Tuscon Arizona studio@rickjoy.com Website Year 2001 Type of Building residential Client withheld Area 500m2 sq feet Cost withheld Publications

Tubac House © Bill Timmermann Description 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 a 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. Planting arrangements and detailing assert a refined man-made charachter. The courtyard provides relief from the overwhelmingly expansive setting while two buildings frame a cropped view of Tumacacaori Park - the client's favourite. A negative edge pool located at the west end of the courtyard extends the experience to this view. The house's weathered steel forms, like some rusted artifacts from a cowboy camp, are oriented to frame prime views. The coarseness of the rough steel exterior contrasts with the refinement of the interior palette of white plaster, stainless steel, maple, and translucent glass. Protruding stell box windows forms penetrate the building in apparently random but carefully selected locations to frame specific views of lightning storms and distant mountain ranges. From Rick Joy "Desert Works" © Bill Timmermann © Bill Timmermann by Rick Joy Architect