The desert retreat in Paradise Valley is designed by acclaimed architect Lee Hutchison, combining traditional Southwestern craftsmanship with natural forms. Built in 2001, the earthy home spans nearly 7,500 square feet with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
His daughter, Jessica Hutchison-Rough, has taken over his business, Urban Design Associates. She said her father loves the Southwest and has visited countless mountains and landscapes. He drew inspiration from organic architecture, which is based in the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
“Things that related to nature, he tried to bring back into the craft of architecture. The initial concept between the rounded curved glass walls was to be able to take in more of the view. So in a traditional straight wall, you cut off 180 degrees. And he found, if he did round rooms with round windows, that he could get a bigger degree of view angle,” Hutchison-Rough told The Epoch Times.
The wide, open windows showcase the skylines of the desert and the city of Phoenix. There are a total of eight indoor and outdoor fireplaces, an infinity-edge pool, and a spa.
According to Hutchison-Rough, the elder Hutchison enjoys problem-solving and the challenges of trying to site a house on unconventional grounds.
“He really liked getting into the details. For example, in that home, there’s a boulder that’s coming out of the wall in the wet bar that was taken from site,” she said. “He likes building in those sorts of details that were unique for the land and could be a story for the owners.”
Curved walls, rounded edges, bright interiors, and earthy textures make Hutchison’s Organic Pueblo philosophy. There are handcrafted details throughout, including hand-carved doors, custom-painted chandeliers, and a leather-paneled library ceiling with nailhead detailing.
The gourmet kitchen consists of double dishwashers, double sinks, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, beverage drawers, three ovens, two microwaves, a temperature-controlled wine room, and a walk-in pantry.
Hutchison-Rough said her father is a cook, so his favorite part of designing a custom home is the kitchen.
As for her, Hutchison-Rough loves all the wood and warm tones that make her feel invited and comfortable. She especially likes the tall wooden posts that hold up the walls and serve as ceiling beams in some rooms.
“I would say being in one of his homes is kind of like a big hug,” said Hutchison-Rough.
She has always loved architecture and art. Her family culture is to visit unique buildings whenever they go on trips. In middle and high school, she worked in the family business running blueprints, cleaning up, and making models. She studied graphic arts, fine arts, and interior design before finally settling on architecture.
Since taking over her father’s firm, she has enjoyed hearing her clients’ stories and finds satisfaction in seeing the finished product.
“People that want to build custom homes, inherently are risk takers. Most of my clients are CEOs or inventors of some sort, so they all have interesting life stories,” she said. “And I do have a great staff who always loves to go see the homes that we work on, and they take pride in everything that we do. So it’s fun to work as a team.”
