On Location: Desert House

Desert House
Location: Desert Hot Springs, California, USA

For our Spring 2015 photo shoot, we travelled 100 miles inland from the busy streets of Los Angeles to the barren desert near Joshua Tree National Park. There amid the endless expanse of sun-baked sand and scrub brush, we found an unlikely oasis of modern design: The Desert House.

The work of architectural firm Marmol Radziner, the Desert House is a prefab prototype that incorporates top-level design elements into a simply bold form. Utilizing a modular open layout with covered outdoor living areas, the house blends in beautifully with the natural landscape all around it. It sits two feet above the ground on a platform, boasting spectacular views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains.

In addition to its minimal aesthetic, the home also maintains a minimal environmental impact thanks to the use of solar technologies. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity, while sunshades minimize the impact of the harsh summer sun. In the winter months, concrete floors provide passive solar-heat gain.

With such a striking juxtaposition between the natural terrain and modern design, the Desert House provided the perfect backdrop for our upcoming Spring 2015 collection.