Dillon Residence | Chen+Suchart Studio

The Dillon Residence takes the form of a courtyard house typology.  It is a remodel and addition to an existing home situated in a 1950’s and 1960’s neighborhood comprised of one-acre horse properties. 

The original L-shaped form was retained for the main house while a new separate Master Suite volume envelops a newly defined courtyard anchored by a pool on one end.  This courtyard serves to promote the outdoors as part of the clients’ daily life.  The language of the house takes on a modern language while retaining some of the domestic qualities enjoyed by the clients.  The Master Suite is configured as a separate volume and therefore is allowed to establish its own architectural identity that is free from the language of the original L-shaped portion of the house. 

This portion of the house has been remodeled to take on a more modern means of space-making whereby the program of the living, dining, and family room are treated as one larger space, minimally defined by a kitchen space that floats planimetrically in between. 

The language of rusted corrugated metal cladding of the roof at the original L-shaped portion of the house is extended to be the wall cladding at the Master Suite.   A large gabion wall comprised of local Salt River rock serves as a backdrop to the courtyard space while establishing a thickened wall to afford privacy for this separate volume.  The pool is treated as a destination that anchors the courtyard on its North end and can be opened to the courtyard by means of a large sliding gate.