2005 / Thomas Residence — Mark Mack Architect(s)

The Interior House

…the interior courtyard becomes the most expressive and utilized part of the residence….

Thomas Residences / Las Vegas / 1995 / Roger Thomas / SFR / 3,700 sf / $1.4 million

Similar to the traditional Islamic house, which organizes itself from the inside out, this project addresses the outside only as a point of access to the rich interior, a qualityamplified by the car-dominated society of the 20th CenturyUnder the burning heat of the desert, this house maintains the appearance of shelter and privacy - a place of refuge away from the hustle and bustle of this mirage-like town.

Rooms are organized around the rectangular inner courtyard, each side addressing a different aspect of domesticity: public and formal towards the street with the office and libraryprivate and informal living on either side with the bedrooms and kitchen/family room and connected with nature towards the back, with the pool and landscape and gardens.

The solid/neutral colors of the walls provide a back drop to the more eccentric colors of the landscape and their stepped orientation expands and adds visual depth to the site. Similarly the large flying roof serves as a canvas for the changing qualities of light reflected off the water andf surrounding landscape.

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The Occulus

Covering the courtyard is the floating roof

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Court Yard

…..the large floating roof casts moving shade onto the walls and floors..

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Koi pond

…..each segment of the homes extends into the courtyard with different features…..

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The Pool

…the water features include warm water and salt pool while high walls protect privacy and adverse views…