Escape the rat race with these luxury desert homes
These magnificent desert homes are no mirage

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Built with eco-friendly rammed earth walls, US architects DUST have designed a stunning scheme for this modern residence, nestled amongst the rocky outcrops of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The team worked especially hard to minimise the impact on the fragile environment, opting to build the property away from popular animal migration paths.
Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Set on the outskirts of El Paso, this incredible desert dwelling is nestled at the foot of a mountain range 2,625 feet above the city, offering amazing views over the urban landscape below. Designed by architects Hazelbaker Rush, the lower portion of the home is clad in rustic grey basalt, a volcanic rock local to the area, blurring the distinction between the property and its rocky location.
Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Comprising a series of stacked boxes inserted into the rugged landscape, a large terrace juts out of the hillside complete with a tranquil swimming pool. Just imagine kicking back and relaxing in this incredible spot!
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Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

This poetically named Dancing Light House in Paradise Valley was completed in 2016 and is the work of architects Kendle Design Collaborative. Inspired by nature, the dwelling and its adjoining guest house feature striking geometric lines that mirror the natural geometry of the surrounding landscape.
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Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

Dubbed Ecolodge, this incredible holiday home in Siwa, Eygpt is the work of Parisian architects Laetitia Delubac and Christian Félix. Overlooking the arid desert, the building was constructed with locally-sourced materials including mud, sun-fired bricks, palm wood, reeds and stone. By following traditional Siwan construction methods, the home fits seamlessly into the natural environment.
Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

The property has 30 unique rooms, all of which come with spacious bathrooms and their own private verandas. Some are even carved out of the mountainside itself. Each piece of furniture in the home was built in the area's local carpentry workshops.
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Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USA

Perched on the edge of Arizona’s Geronimo golf course, this award-winning property is a real desert gem. The Scottsdale home was designed by Lake Flato Architects to blend in with the surrounding rugged landscape, with vast planes of glass maximising the amazing desert views.
The Brown Residence, Arizona, USA

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USAe

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USA

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

Named High Desert Dwelling, this next property, created by Imbue Design, is nestled on the outskirts of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. Consisting of a main house, a guest house and a garage, it’s covered in sheets of rusty Corten steel that blend in with the red earth.
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High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Home to a Belgian film director, this bold modern property is located in the glittering desert just outside Marrakech in Morocco. Designed by Guilhem Eustache Architects, the unique estate comprises four enigmatic boxy white structures. As well as the main home, there is also a pool house, a caretaker’s residence and a garage.
Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA

Built as a second home on the outskirts of Phoenix, this striking house features rammed earth walls wrapped in a protective steel shell. Local firm Wendell Burnette Architects designed this gorgeous desert property to fit in seamlessly with the surrounding terrain of large granite boulders and towering cacti.
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Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA
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Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA
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Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA

Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

This 3,875-square-foot dwelling is located in Blue Diamond, a hamlet in the enchanting Mojave Desert, just outside Las Vegas. Built on a sloping site in an arroyo, or dry creek, the team at Hoogland Architecture designed a low-lying home formed of two rectangular structures connected by a deck.
Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

The exterior walls are formed from concrete, weathered steel and large stretches of glazing. To protect the property from the intensity of the desert heat, deep roof overhangs have been added, while shaded patios encircle the house to provide extra protection from the sun.
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Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Sitting high in the Canelo Hills in southern Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, architectural studio DUST has created this desert home, using volcanic ash to form the rammed earth walls. The box-like property comprises two solid structures centred around an open void. One of the units contains the living spaces and kitchen, while the other houses two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Inside, the rooms are kept simple and light, with the raw lava-crete walls complemented by warm Sassafrass wood finishes on the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling window panes offer ventilation, whilst framing the home's beautiful views. Ready to make your great escape to the desert? We'll race you!
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