This home sits in the high Sonoran Desert surrounded by boulder landforms and sculptural vegetation. Typography, orientation, climate, views, technology and harmony with the power of this unique environment determined the home's design concept. Principal living areas including master bedroom and guest home surround an exterior courtyard that follows the natural grade down to a lower level sundeck, pool and artist studio. Masses of concrete block rising out of the desert face east and west protecting interior spaces from low sun angles. Large prefabricated steel canopies overhang glass without mullions, filter light, and cast shadows allowing a seamless transparency between life within and nature beyond. Textured steel sunscreens cast micro-shadows across surfaces and façades to effectively reduce solar gain. The coolness of the shaded courtyard, the mountain vistas framed by living spaces and the sound of rushing water, combine with the simplicity of raw materials and subdued colors to create a mood of serenity.