J. S. James Enterprises, Inc., challenged Forman Architects to design a home that was luxurious but not too big, modern, efficient and livable all year around. A home that understood it was in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Their answer - Casa Desierto Bungalow - fully addresses the question of what a modern intelligent home should be like in the Sonoran Desert. In the heart of Scottsdale, with grace and civility this custom home offers environmentally clean, safe materials and the finest workmanship. It offers many years of fine living for whoever wants to live near downtown Scottsdale.
Low maintenance desert landscaping, including the existing 25 year old ironwood tree, is a feature of Casa Desierto’s design. In addition, newly planted indigenous desert flowering trees and plants are included. No lawn to consume precious water or to maintain, just natural desert beauty.
A 5Kw roof top solar electric generating system will be installed on the south facing roof. It feeds a net-metering system to ‘shore power’ and a battery system for easy access and monitoring in the garage for night time power and a lower energy bill. A rooftop solar powered Water Maker will deliver clean drinking water from the desert air to the kitchen.
Interior walls will use metal studs instead of wood - no “nail pops” from green 2x4’s shrinking in the wall for Casa Desierto! A majority of the building materials are recyclable. And all exterior walls are built of ICCF block (insulated composite concrete form) - essentially a reinforced concrete wall with integral insulation. The resulting insulation value of more than R31 assures low heating and cooling cost year around.