As inspiration for a decorative scheme, the Utah landscape is a gift. When Design Studio JAC was asked to reimagine the interior of this contemporary desert home, the US state’s rocky terrain provided everything it needed to create a restorative sanctuary in the wilderness. Jourdan Hammond, who founded the Miami- and Belgium-based studio alongside Ashley Viola and Céline Hellin, led the project.
Sitting atop an ancient black lava field within the Mojave Desert’s northern reach, the family holiday home’s striking black façade is a mirror to the surrounding volcanic rock – hence its name, Rock House. On the horizon are the vivid copper-toned sandstone formations of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, with the Pine Valley Mountains rising in the distance. “The landscape feels both rugged and tranquil – a meeting of black basalt rock, desert flora and fauna, and ever-shifting light,” says Hammond. “Our goal was to create a home that feels as though it’s always belonged here.”
Originally built in 2014, the two-storey property had been gutted by fire and its interiors completely cleared when the current owners acquired it. “That blank canvas gave us incredible creative freedom,” Hammond recalls. “We could rethink every surface, every proportion, every detail.” The homeowners view this place as an escape (“a place to slow down, connect with the landscape, and find inspiration”), so the designers wanted every room to have a connection to the outdoors – “whether that’s through a framed view, a material texture, or the way the light moves across surfaces”.
With its flat rooflines, thick stucco walls and earthy palette, the house is typical of modern desert architecture; in response, Hammond’s design feels grounded and contemplative. “The views transform with the light: glowing in warm tones at dawn, stark and sculptural at midday, and finally awash in oranges as dusk settles – the desert home’s colour story was conceived to echo those transitions,” he says.
Colour is used sparingly but with intention, the palette dominated by warm neutrals with occasional accents of rust, olive and black. Tactile organic materials bring their own gentle hues, as well as a sense of durability. Lime-plastered walls diffuse a soft glow, while wide-plank Belgian wood floors mirror the dark volcanic stone outside, rooting the home in its setting. In the open-plan living area, a cold-rolled steel fireplace rises from floor to ceiling, echoing a staircase in the same material; both were crafted by a local artisan.
Throughout the house, stone islands, honed counters and sculptural millwork read almost like geological formations, carved rather than constructed. Bedrooms are almost cave-like in their enveloping calm. “The walls are wrapped entirely in microcement, creating a meditative atmosphere,” adds Hammond. The effect is one of quiet luxury, where craftsmanship replaces ornamentation and expansive windows frame the wilderness like living artworks.
Design Studio JAC created many custom pieces for the home, often in warm greys that complement the landscape. Among these are an oversized sofa; charred-wood coffee tables designed by Céline Hellin; wooden stools in the monolithic kitchen; and custom beds with integrated timber elements, such as nightstands and desks. These bespoke features were combined with minimalist pieces by Modernist and contemporary designers: vintage Tobia Scarpa chairs in the breakfast nook, a pair of charcoal Utrecht chairs by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina beside the fireplace, and a boulder-like microcement dining table by Armand & Francine, teamed with an Apparatus Studio chandelier.
Desert breezes blow freely through the terraces and courtyards, reflecting the designers’ meticulous use of everything the landscape has to offer. “During each site visit, we photo-documented the cacti, desert plants and rock formations, building a palette drawn directly from the environment,” explains Hammond. “We also collected stones and brought them back to our studio to colour-match the exterior stucco – finding the perfect tones so the house would appear to emerge from the lava field itself.”
Even the finishing flourishes were an homage to the desert. “At the end of every project, we add florals and greenery to bring the space to life. In this case, we foraged the area for naturally dried branches and grasses, which quickly turned into a bit of a comedy – we were hiking and climbing over boulders in search of the perfect sculptural pieces,” remembers Hammond. “Later, when a landscaping crew came to tidy the grounds, we couldn’t resist digging through their pile of trimmings for more treasures. They looked completely puzzled – it was a true ‘one person’s trash is another’s treasure’ moment.”
Photo: Thibault Debaene - 转载自：AD(admiddleeast)
- 图片@AD(admiddleeast)
- 国家：美国
- 编辑：序赞网
- 翻译：序赞网
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