A striking new residential project in Paradise Valley, Arizona, demonstrates how contemporary architecture can seamlessly blend with desert landscapes while incorporating sustainable design principles. The Desert Geode Residence, designed by Kendle Design Collaborative and completed in 2025, features a distinctive exterior composed of folding metal planes and blasted-face masonry that recalls the contrasting characteristics of a geode shimmering under the bright Arizona sun.
Spanning 7,200 square feet, the residence showcases the work of lead architects Brent Kendle and Cathleen Kebert, with interior design by Wiseman & Gale Interiors and landscape architecture by Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture. The project represents a modernist approach to desert living, utilizing materials from manufacturers including Subzero/Wolf, Fleetwood, Listone Giordano, Mesastone Block, and Western States Metal Roofing.
The home's exterior shell-like roof incorporates extensive glazing that floods the interior spaces with natural daylight. Inside, the material palette transitions to softer, more intimate elements through a carefully orchestrated symphony of various wood species and natural materials. Strategic punctuations of metal and stone create visual connections to the exterior shell while establishing sophisticated contrasts throughout the interior spaces.
Beyond the entrance foyer, visitors encounter a lush interior courtyard that serves as a contained oasis within the desert environment. This central feature includes specially designed basins that capture and slowly release rainwater during Arizona's monsoon season, allowing the integrated landscape to thrive and flourish naturally. The great room provides distant views of Camelback Mountain, creating an ideal backdrop for gatherings and relaxation.
The residence's southern exposure emphasizes transparency, with extensive glazing that welcomes guests to explore various terraces and outdoor living spaces. A negative-edge pool features cascading waters that contribute to the home's passive cooling strategy, an essential element for comfortable desert living. The outdoor areas include intimate dining spaces, cozy fire features, and a comfortable open-air cabana protected by an organically patterned metal screen and surrounded by lush vegetation.
Photography by Ema Peter Photography captures the home's integration with its desert setting, showcasing how the design celebrates the unique joys of living in the Arizona landscape. The project demonstrates how regional appropriateness and sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into breathtakingly innovative residential architecture. The Desert Geode Residence stands as an example of how modernist design principles can be applied to create homes that are both environmentally conscious and architecturally striking, perfectly suited to their desert context while providing comfortable, luxurious living spaces.
