Real House by HK Associates Inc Transforms Desert Site into Family Residence

HK Associates Inc completed Real House, a residential architecture project in the United States in 2023. The 3,223 square foot home was designed for a family of five by lead architects Kathy Hancox and Michael Kothke. Curated by Hana Abdel, the project is situated on an introverted parcel along a quiet arroyo in the Sonoran Desert, downslope from a busy road and surrounded by neighbors. The design process involved careful site selection with the clients, who initially sought panoramic foothills views. When such properties proved unavailable, the architects transformed a seemingly viewless location into an opportunity. The resulting home reveals a dramatic sightline down the arroyo while capturing views of the Santa Catalina mountains. The project involved multiple collaborators including Harris Engineering Services for structural engineering, Mechanical Engineering Consultants, LLC for mechanical systems, Matthews Consulting & Design, Inc. for electrical work, and LeMarr Construction/Premier Custom Builders as general contractor. Cimmaron Circle Construction provided additional engineering and consulting services. Manufacturers included Cosentino, Mosa, Bosch, Crosswater London, Infinity Drain, Reform Kitchens, Sharp, Subzero, Toto, Western Windows Systems, and Wolf. Photography was handled by Ema Peter Photography. The design translates the boldness and subtleties of the desert environment into livable spaces, demonstrating how architectural intervention can transform challenging sites into distinctive residences.