Marfa house at one with its site
A structure at one with the wild, arid simplicity of the Texas desert, this Marfa house is the work of two architects, Berkeley-based Rael San Fratello and Tucson-based Dust. Minimalist architecture, almost spartan looks, and materials that feel entirely of their place define this home that is the perfect bolthole for secluded relaxation – a bolthole you can buy, since the boutique abode has just hit the market.
The small desert city of Marfa in far West Texas is known for its art scene, nature, and stargazing opportunities. Here, the flat, dry expanses are rivalled in beauty only by the night sky, and this little – in scale perhaps, but not in scope or architectural ambition – home offers views of both, situated as it is in a large, secluded plot at the edge of town. Access to lots of exterior space, in the shape of an enclosed garden of native plants, several courtyards and large windows that frame the surrounding environment, provides constant connection between indoors and outdoors, the architecture and its place.
Marfa house at one with its site
Comprising two distinct structures, the home contains a chef’s kitchen, a large living space, a private sculpture garden, and a guest bedroom and bathroom in the first volume; meanwhile the master bedroom suite, with its own study and lounge and the master bath, are in the second. Sandy-coloured adobe brick walls come together with metal elements for an aesthetic that combines earthiness and a minimalist, utilitarian feel. At the same time, tactile yet clean, flat surfaces throughout offer an ideal gallery opportunity to display art.
Solar panels on this Marfa house make the most of the Texas sun in this home that pays homage to the landscape around it at every turn. This, combined with the rest of its architectural features, makes it a modern classic (one half of its architecture team, Dust was also part of the Wallpaper* Architects Directory in 2015), full of long vistas, natural materials, feature gardens and architectural moments, such as the outdoor shower next to the master bedroom, and the enticing study with its strategically placed window out towards the views.
INFORMATION
More about the Marfa house here
-
Rainer W. Schlegelmilch's Porsche photography showcases the aesthetics of speedTaschen's new edition of Rainer W. Schlegelmilch’s collected imagery from a quarter of a century spent following Porsche racing highlights historical machines, emotive camera technique and major moments on the track
-
This striking new vineyard is putting Swedish wine on the mapBerglund Arkitekter completes a new home for Kullabergs Vingård in the country's verdant Skåne country
-
Tag Heuer celebrates its racing credentials at this year's Watches and WondersTag Heuer nods to its partnership with Grand Prix de Monaco with this year's sporty new watches
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of natureWOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
-
The Frick Collection's expansion by Selldorf Architects is both surgical and delicateThe New York cultural institution gets a $220 million glow-up
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacyDavid M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizonA peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay thereFrank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
-
Heritage and conservation after the fires: what’s next for Los Angeles?In the second instalment of our 'Rebuilding LA' series, we explore a way forward for historical treasures under threat
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildingsThe JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act
-
Buy a slice of California’s midcentury modern history with this 1955 Pasadena houseConrad Buff II Residence has been fully restored and updated for the 21st century
