Project: Bridge View Residence
Architects: Kendle Design Collaborative
Interior Design: Elizabeth Rosensteel
Landscape Design: GBTwo Landscape Architecture
Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Area: 7,000 Square Feet
Photo Credits: Chibi Moku
Text by Kendle Design Collaborative
Faced with restrictive zoning, a steep drop-off, and a narrow plot abutting a desert wash, the architects found creative ways to fulfill the clients’ desire for both mountain and valley vistas. By elevating the main living spaces and master suite above the ground floor, they transformed challenging constraints into a striking contemporary home that celebrates its desert surroundings.
Bridging Over the Desert Wash
First, the design team tackled the site’s limited footprint and challenging topography. Because the plot sat adjacent to a desert wash and offered few buildable options, they decided to lift the social areas—living, dining, and kitchen—onto an upper level. Consequently, the home “bridges” above the lower floor, creating uninterrupted views of the distant mountains, sweeping valley, and the wash below. As a result, residents now experience both landscape and light from the elevated vantage point.
Low Profile with Expansive Views
Next, to respect zoning setbacks and avoid blocking neighbors’ sightlines, the house maintains a surprisingly low profile from the street. However, the soaring metal-clad roofs—angled to shield interiors from direct sun—introduce vertical drama at the rear. In addition, generous floor-to-ceiling glass panels open the upper level to panoramic views. Therefore, although the lower volume remains grounded, the elevated living spaces feel expansive and open to the desert sky.
A Material Palette for Desert Comfort
Furthermore, the exterior blends concrete block forms with varying textures, smooth stucco, and exposed steel. Consequently, the palette evokes both rugged sturdiness and refined modernity. Moreover, broad metal roof overhangs and tinted glass guard against harsh sunlight, while concrete and stucco walls provide thermal mass—keeping interiors cool. In turn, these materials ensure the home feels both fresh and highly livable, even under desert heat.
Private Master Suite Above
Meanwhile, the master suite occupies the same elevated level as the social spaces. As a result, the bedroom, bathroom, and private terrace all benefit from the same mountain and valley outlook. In contrast, the ground floor houses secondary bedrooms and support rooms, tucked closer to the wash. Because the elevated placement of the master suite maximizes privacy and views, family members can enjoy both communal and personal retreats within one cohesive footprint.
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Connection
Finally, by placing the main gathering areas on the upper floor, the architects forged a fluid connection to outdoor terraces. Sliding glass walls dissolve the boundary between inside and out, allowing cross-ventilation and creating shaded al fresco dining and lounging areas. As a result, residents can move effortlessly from the living room to the terrace, savoring sunrise coffee with mountain views or evening dinners under the stars.
In sum, Bridge View Residence exemplifies how elevating living spaces can unlock views on a tricky desert site. By bridging over the wash and layering materials that respond to climate, the architects crafted a contemporary, low-profile home that both protects and celebrates its surroundings.
