Escape the rat race with these luxury desert homes

These magnificent desert homes are no mirage

Casey Dunn / Hazelbaker Rush

Searching for your own private piece of paradise away from the hustle and bustle? Head for the desert. Enjoying rugged remote landscapes, an abundance of sunshine and every luxury you could wish for, these incredible homes offer the best of both worlds. Let's delve into the wilderness and leave the rest of the world behind.

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg / DUST

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

Jeff Goldberg / DUST

Set over a single storey, the long narrow structure features multiple terraces across both the north and south elevations, plus a deck on the roof. Local soil was used to build the walls, while wow-factor glazed doors transform the home into a space where the interior living zones and the desert merge seamlessly.

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg / DUST

The internal spaces are separated into three sections – a sleeping and washing area, a lounge and a music studio. In the living room, statement glazed walls slide open to ensure fresh air flow between the rooms. The ultimate indoor-outdoor interior, residents have to leave the building to travel between the different areas.

Tucson mountain retreat, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg / DUST

The two bedrooms feature an industrial-style concrete canopy to shelter the rooms from the harsh midday sun, but that’s not the only cool design feature here. The house produces all of its own water with a 30,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system – super handy in the desert where water is in short supply.

Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Casey Dunn / Hazelbaker Rush

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

Casey Dunn / Hazelbaker Rush

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

Casey Dunn / Hazelbaker Rush

The interior palette is influenced by local traditions, featuring an abundance of leather and steel that draws on the area’s historic railroads and cowboy heritage. “Door handles and cabinet pulls are fashioned in black steel with a small offering of leather to soften and warm the cold edges," the architects explain.

Franklin Mountain House, Texas, USA

Casey Dunn / Hazelbaker Rush

Large spans of glass draw the breathtaking terrain inside – it’s common to spot wildlife in the stunning surrounding landscapes around here. Golden eagles and red-tailed hawks fly around the canyons above, while deer and rabbits are often found grazing on the flora on the south patio.

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Alexander Vertikoff / Kendle Design Collaborative

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

Alexander Vertikoff / Kendle Design Collaborative

One of the most dramatic features of the 5,600-square-foot house, the floating roof canopy adds real wow-factor. It also creates a perfect balance between the smaller, cozier living spaces with lower ceilings and the vast vaulted rooms framed by the elevated roof at the rear of the property.

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Alexander Vertikoff / Kendle Design Collaborative

The house is designed to maximise natural light wherever possible. By arranging the home around a central courtyard, a wealth of sunlight floods each of the living spaces. Our favourite feature, however, has to be the swimming pool, which casts enchanting reflections up into the wooden overhanging canopy.

Dancing Light House, Arizona, USA

Alexander Vertikoff / Kendle Design Collaborative

The interior has been fitted with state-of-the-art lighting and cooling systems, cleverly concealed within the organic-inspired interior. Rammed earth walls reference the home's desert location, while concrete, metal and glass provide a welcome counterbalance to the property’s more earthy features.

Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

Taziry Ecolodge

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

Taziry Ecolodge

The wow-factor property is located within a desert oasis at the foot of the Red Mountain of Siwa. Thanks to the sprawling floor plan, the residence has almost as many private patios, courtyards and gardens as guest rooms, so there's no shortage of places to relax and unwind.

Ecolodge, Siwa, Eygpt

Taziry Ecolodge

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

Taziry Ecolodge

Inside the rooms, candles and oil lamps are used rather than electricity, creating a peaceful, calming atmosphere. The walls are made of a traditional local building material called kershef that consists of mud, sand and salt from the nearby salt lakes.

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USA

Azarchitecture

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

Azarchitecture

The master bedroom has its own private courtyard and there's even a separate two-bedroom annexe connected to the main house by shaded walkways – ideal for visitors! Externally, a sunken patio leads to this incredible infinity pool, offering a sublime spot to sit back, relax and soak up the stunning vistas.

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USAe

Azarchitecture

Mid-century vibes characterise the interior of the property, with a muted brown palette and oak ceilings adding a touch of retro charm to the contemporary abode. 14-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glazed doors add more wow-factor to the expansive open-plan space.

The Brown Residence, Arizona, USA

Azarchitecture

Shaded overhangs help keep the sizeable property cool during the thick heat, while oversized pivoting glass doors connect almost every room in the stunning home to a private courtyard. The Brown Residence is part of the 8,000-acre Desert Mountain community created around Geronimo’s six golf courses and clubhouses, so while the landscape is remote, you'll never run out of ways to while away your time here.

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

Imbue Design

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

Imbue Design

Two L-shaped volumes intersect to create the quirky structure, with four glazed gables framing views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The lines of the dwelling rise dramatically above the greenery to contrast with the ancient juniper trees dotted across the desert vista.

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

Imbue Design

The architects wanted to create a space with intimate nooks and zones for the homeowners to socialise. Each of the four wings of the home has a different purpose – a lounge and dining room take up one wing each, while the remaining two areas house bedrooms. Large swathes of glass throughout draw in light and show off the stunning desert vistas.

High Desert Dwelling, Utah, USA

Imbue Design

The interior is neutrally decorated, with pale walls and deep rich wood floors, allowing those spectacular views to do all the talking. Just imagine waking up to that incredible outlook every morning!

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Jean-Marie Monthiers / Guilhem Eustache Architects

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

Jean-Marie Monthiers / Guilhem Eustache Architects

Built with clay, the minimalist home opens out to a vast swimming pool at the rear, featuring a diving board and pool house just behind. We can't think of a more serene spot for a midnight swim!

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Jean-Marie Monthiers / Guilhem Eustache Architects

Finished in 2007, the pristine white property sits within almost five acres of remote desert. Despite the generous plot, the site's neutrally-decorated structures only take up 2,583 square feet, leaving plenty of space to enjoy that breathtaking scenery.

Fobe House, Marrakesh, Morocco

Jean-Marie Monthiers / Guilhem Eustache Architects

In the main house, a selection of patterned openings are dotted across the walls, creating intricate lattice-style shadows on the walls and floors inside. A hidden staircase leads up to the roof terrace where you can sit back and bask in the desert ambience in style.

Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA

Wendell Burnette Architects

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

Wendell Burnette Architects

The architects wanted the home to recede like a shadow into the landscape. Over time, the steel facade will weather and rust, settling into the rugged vista rather than sticking out obtrusively. The structure's walls were even made from earth that was excavated when the foundations were dug, intertwining the natural terrain with this unique property.

Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA

Wendell Burnette Architects

Positioned on the edge of a peninsula, the house benefits from spectacular views across the rolling sand. What’s more, by arranging the main living areas around a courtyard lined with glass walls, the desert is brought into the heart of the home.

Desert Courtyard House, Arizona, USA

Wendell Burnette Architects

Inside this incredible property, double-height ceilings lined with dark steel create a dramatic first impression. When the sun goes down, the interior becomes even more impressive, as the reflective ceiling and swathes of glass merge with the starry night's sky. Talk about wow-factor!

Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

Stephen Morgan

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

Stephen Morgan

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

Stephen Morgan

Built as a residence that the homeowners could enjoy in their golden years, future-proofing was an important consideration. As such, all of the living spaces have been placed on the same level, while the wraparound deck connects each area of the property for ease of access. Other accessibility features, including grab bars and a wet room, have also been added.

Arroyo House, Nevada, USA

Stephen Morgan

Sustainability was also a top priority for the clients, with low-flow plumbing fixtures and non-toxic paint featured throughout the home. Dirty water is treated onsite through a septic system, and the owners are planning to install photovoltaic solar panels, with the aim of generating more energy than the home consumes.

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg

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

Jeff Goldberg

When coming up with the design, the architects looked to residences in the area to ensure the property fitted in with the local architecture. At the heart of the house, the sheltered courtyard frames views into the valley beyond and can also be used as a dining area when the weather is good.

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg

While the internal layout is open-plan, for security reasons, the owners requested the architects make the shell of the home impenetrable. To solidify the structure, 18-inch thick walls were built from a material known as lava-crete. Comprising red pulverized lava rock, cement and water, the concrete-like mixture was then set into bricks.

Casa Caldera, Arizona, USA

Jeff Goldberg

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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