stone court villa was designed by Marwan Al-Sayed Architects and built by 180 degrees
A nine acre desert site that contains two desert washes. Wonderful vistas to both nearby desert mountains and distant peaks. Compromised views to the immediate surrounding neighborhood. Thus walls are introduced slowly, rhythmically, repetitively... Snake like, moving in and out of the living spaces, blurring boundaries... Containing space, life, courts, water, trees, laughter and shadows- Silence. Walls of stacked thick mexican stone, both inside and out - what matters. Slowly a pattern emerges, shifts and then unwinds Repetitive, Even - here elongated, there extended, here compressed in subtle variations- like whispers full of depth. The silent slicing of stone, the splash of water, the capture of light...the walls exclude what is weak and undesired so that what is vibrant and alive can flourish in peace.
