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400 ABOVE: Sitting atop a ridge outside of Phoenix overlooking distant mountains and Wickenburg, the Horner Home f rames extraordinary views with a minimalist palette of exposed steel, exposed concrete, and smooth finish stucco. The home anchors itself into the desert ridge with thick walls and deep-set windows then reaches to the views with deep overhangs. Contractor: Dan Reardon, photograph by Matthew Wagner LEFT: The Black House is a study in minimalism. We stripped the entry down to its basics. A simple path is lined with Mexican Fencepost cacti leading to a covered entry constructed f rom a steel column holding a steel beam with a quarter-inch steel plate resting on top. Developer: Cindy Steinman, photograph by Christopher Barr FACING PAGE TOP: My homes never detract f rom the landscape and are meant to augment the surroundings. A bridge over a deep ravine leads to the f ront door of the Wintersteen Home, a desert modern in Caref ree, Arizona. You see through the home upon entry to the vast views beyond of mountains, including Elephant Rock. Rendering by Stephen Sanmarco FACING PAGE BOTTOM LEFT: The long overhangs of the Wurster Home are offset and anchored by a 24-foot, two-story portion of the home. With an L-shaped plan enclosing a covered outdoor living area, the home weaves itself into the raw desert with views of Pinnacle Peak. Contractor: Dan Reardon, rendering by Stephen Sanmarco FACING PAGE BOTTOM RIGHT: I once heard an architect say that "every neighborhood needs an incident." The Roma Home is just such an incident: a modern design set in an older neighborhood undergoing revitalization. The raised second story has walls of windows on the north and south ends to capture mountain views. Contractor Dan Reardon: photograph by Wayne King See more about Spry Architecture on page 463

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