Completed in 2023, the 1600-square-foot Telescope House is a retreat in the high-desert landscape of Sedona, Arizona, designed by Phoenix-based Wendell Burnette Architects. The house was commissioned by clients who, after visiting the area for decades, wanted a low-impact home that would serve as a seasonal retreat, a short-term rental, and eventually, their full-time residence. The house's design is inspired by the metaphor of a "land-based telescope" that frames specific views of the dramatic desert landscape. Situated on a gently sloping site on the footprint of a former building, the house is intentionally understated. The rectangular form is nestled between two rows of centuries-old Juniper trees that frame views of the iconic Cathedral Rock and Munds Mountain. Clad in weathering Corten steel and with steel-plate window frames, the exterior helps the building recede into the landscape like a "dark shadow," particularly at night, and offers excellent fire resistance. The interiors are designed as a "welcome respite for the eyes in the desert," with a minimalist, dark-toned palette. The floors, walls, ceilings, doors, and cabinets are crafted from FSC-certified recycled wood-dust panels impregnated with a dark pigment, then waxed and buffed. A telescopic central hall, with interior surfaces that step up and out, subtly directs attention toward the panoramic east-facing view. This layout connects the more private, cabinet-like bedroom and bathroom areas on the south to the main living, kitchen, and dining spaces at the east end. The house also incorporates sustainable features, including strategically shaded windows for passive solar heating in the winter, operable windows for cross ventilation, and the potential for a future photovoltaic array. A planned water-harvesting tank will further increase the home's self-sufficiency. Credits Architects: Wendell Burnette Architects (Wendell Burnette, Brandan Siebrecht, Jared Abraham, and Joby Dutton) Clients: Ian and Anne Nowland Photography: Jason Roehner General Contractor & Custom Fabrication: Roots Design Build (Mark McCulloch) Structural Engineer: Rudow + Berry, Inc Electrical Engineer: Woodward Engineering Mechanical Consulting: EKR Heating and Cooling Lighting Design: Creative Designs in Lighting Millwork: CMCW (Chris Madsen) Miscellaneous Steel: Falcon Steel (Scott Dow) Facade Consulting: Tryland Homes (Robert Densmore) Signage & Artworks: Arpark Signs (Gretchen Wilde) Landscape Contractor: Arterra Inc Home Automation & Media: Technically Integrated (Jared Payne) Rendering & Visualization: 5visual