Jewel Homes

Modernism evolved around the single-family home. From Mies’ worker housing competition to the Case Study program in LA, residential design was both the laboratory and the proving ground for architectural experimentation. The past several decades has seen the long decline of the architect’s involvement in production home design and, thus, this outlet of innovation reduced to a mere discussion, typically regarding cost, and often from an academic distance. As a result, homes today often suffer from a lack of craft, intention, emotion, and detail – favoring, instead, cost-effectiveness, speed, and ease of replicability. Architects are suffering, as well, from the loss of opportunity to experiment on a small scale, leading to a culture of safe (often repetitive) design. As a bridge between custom homes and tract homes, Jewel Homes looked to bring to market a compromise of sorts: a production home with the design integrity and craft of a custom home at a more economical price point. As designers, they have given us a chance to experiment, honing our values and exploring ideas at a small and iterative scale. The design process with Jewel Homes has been about craftmanship, quality, and the exploration of how to comfortably connect with nature and the outdoors in an environment known for its extreme weather – all of this, without exception, while maintaining the tight budget required of production housing. Working in tandem with the general contractor, aspects of the home’s design and construction were prioritized, such as the connection to the outdoors and landscaping, as well as the use of natural material and finishes. Opportunities to reduce costs often came in tandem with sustainable practices – the use of reclaimed wood throughout the home, sourcing material and labor locally, incorporating passive cooling strategies, and utilizing native plants. The craftsmen – many of whom would otherwise be subcontractors – are employed directly by the developer. This has allowed us to leverage them as a design resource, taking the opportunity to design and fabricate components ourselves whenever possible. As a result, the developer built each home at under $350/sf – roughly 1/4 the average price of a custom home in Las Vegas. There are nine base models for the homes. Each iteration of these models is different - some only slightly, while others dramatically – as each home is reconceptualized to respond to its neighborhood context. Designed for longevity and little maintenance, the material palette is reminiscent of the agricultural and mining structures that played such a large role in the history of Nevada – practical and built to endure. The homes are a palette of natural woods, lime plaster, raw steel, and locally sourced stone, ensuring little maintenance and continued beauty as they age. The success of the initial neighborhood has led to the planning and design of several more to follow, including two neighborhoods currently under construction. We see, however, the exploration of new ideas – ideas that can translate to a smaller, more equitable scale - as the project’s greatest success, returning the architect and the craftsman to residential production design.