Tucson is a uniquely beautiful place, filled with red-dust canyons and picturesque ombre sunsets. Tucson architects have sought to capitalize on the area’s stunning setting, and that is particularly true in Pima Canyon Estates. As a relatively new gated community dating to the 2000s, the homes in Pima Canyon Estates are built on large lots and offer many brilliant examples of Desert Modern architecture.

Although Desert Modern is often associated with Palm Springs, generations of Tucson homebuilders have embraced the style. Read on to learn more about its chief characteristics and examples of the Desert Modern style in Pima Canyon Estates.

One standout feature of Desert Modern architecture is its embrace of an indoor-outdoor aesthetic. Many Pima Canyon Estates homes incorporate this via large, floor-to-ceiling windows that capture views from most rooms and allow natural light into the property. In Pima Canyon Estates, you’re never far from the awe-inspiring Catalina Mountains, and properties in the area capitalize on that proximity with windows that afford views of the range. Desert Modern also celebrates the desert’s unique flora and fauna with, for example, cacti plantings incorporated throughout the landscaping.

Many Desert Modern homes have architectural elements that reflect the importance of the area’s climate. For example, one common characteristic is flat roofs, which are possible in arid environments where a sloped roof isn’t required for the flow of frequent precipitation. Many of the contemporary houses you see in Pima Canyon Estates will have flat roofs. Builders and homeowners in the area are also increasingly using the abundant power of the desert sun by installing solar panels.

It’s possible to find Desert Modern houses in Pima Canyon Estates that have flourishes reminiscent of some of the 20th century’s leading architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, and I.M. Pei. A Sentry Ridge house, for instance, has the clean lines Frank Lloyd Wright is known for with the added flourish of a dramatic sculptural element reminiscent of Frank Gehry. So when you purchase a Pima Canyon Estates Desert Modern property, you also buy a home with a strong sense of architectural lineage.

If you want more insight into the Desert Modern architecture and Pima Canyon Estates real estate, contact the Tucson experts at Gray | St. Onge today. Gray | St. Onge is an award-winning Tucson real estate company headed by agents Jameson Gray and McKenna St. Onge, who have a combined 25 years of experience assisting clients in the homebuying process.