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Project Name

OASIS

Firm:

Awards Category

Unbuilt Architecture

Project Summary

Located in the historic Scotch 80’s neighborhood—the first planned community in Las Vegas dating back to the 1950s—Oasis emerges as a modern reinterpretation of the desert courtyard home. This lush 120-acre enclave just outside Downtown Las Vegas is known for its tree-lined streets and eclectic architectural mix, with many mid-century ranches defined by clean lines and openness. Conceived as a sanctuary within the city, the single-story, 3,000 SF residence is designed for a couple relocating to Las Vegas in retirement. Organized as a U-shaped plan, the home rethinks the traditional courtyard typology through four distinct volumes: primary living, primary sleeping, a guest casita, and the garage. These segments are separated yet unified by circulation through a central courtyard. Deep roof overhangs extend beyond the volumes, creating shaded outdoor passages and framing transitions between interior and exterior space. The material palette underscores both performance and expression. Thermally modified wood slats wrap the home as a protective screen, filtering light while mitigating heat gain. Smooth, hand-troweled plaster defines each individual volume, while large expanses of shaded glass dissolve boundaries between inside and out, connecting each programmatic wing back to the courtyard. Oasis is designed to cultivate presence and serenity—an urban refuge where nature is not only integrated but celebrated. Within its walls, the bustle of the city falls away, replaced by quiet rhythms of light, shadow, and landscape.

Project Narrative

Oasis began as a request to create an escape within the city—an urban retreat where the noise and pace of Las Vegas dissolve into stillness. Positioned on the edge of downtown, the home remains close to the city for convenience, yet it is purposefully removed in spirit, offering serenity in isolation. The design was guided by the words of Claude Debussy: “Music is the space between the notes.” This idea of presence within absence led us to study Kandinsky, whose compositions reveal a deliberate placement of forms, colors, and voids. Nothing is arbitrary—objects hold meaning through relation and rhythm. Translating this thinking into architecture, the programmatic functions of the house were separated into distinct geometric volumes, “scattered” across the site yet unified beneath an overarching roof form. The voids between these volumes became incisions into the site—pathways of light and movement—while framing views toward and through the centralized courtyard. The result is an inward-focused home that turns away from its suburban context to embrace its own landscape. Circulation between spaces occurs through the courtyard, reinforcing a constant connection to nature. Within these transitions, one experiences calm, presence, and awareness of being. At 3,000 square feet, Oasis provides three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and dining room, and a den. Yet its essence extends beyond function: it is a home where the external city fades and the focus turns inward—not just visually, but spiritually.

Sustainable Design & Materials

Material sustainability was the central driver in the selection and detailing of Oasis. Each choice was guided by durability in Las Vegas’ harsh desert climate, the use of renewable resources, potential for recyclability, and the long-term health of the home’s environment. The exterior wood screen embodies this approach. Sourced from renewable forests and thermally modified through a moisture-removal “baking” process, the material gains strength and weather resistance while retaining its natural warmth. The slatted system performs as more than an aesthetic veil—it shades the home, reduces solar gain, and creates a cavity that acts as a heat chimney, allowing captured hot air to dissipate before reaching the building envelope. The screen is designed for future reuse or salvage, reinforcing its sustainable life cycle. Water conservation is equally vital in Las Vegas, where annual rainfall averages only four inches. Within the Southern Nevada Water District’s guidelines, Oasis integrates both functional and poetic water strategies. A large roof surface directs rainfall into cascading moments that animate the courtyard during rare storms, while concealed collection systems store water for landscape irrigation. The central pool, revered for its serenity, also acts as a passive cooling element. Operable glazing captures breezes across the water’s surface, drawing cooled air into each adjacent space. The home’s fragmented program supports energy efficiency. Breaking the design into smaller volumes reduces circulation space, allowing mechanical systems to remain compact and precisely targeted. Each volume cross-ventilates naturally, lowering cooling demand. Smaller structural bays reduce material use and enable renewable alternatives. Mechanical runs are minimized, with underground systems delivering conditioned air where it is most needed. Glazing further enhances performance. High-performance glass minimizes heat buildup while ensuring abundant daylight. Exterior walls are constructed with full cavity insulation, foam sealants, and air-tight tapes, forming a high-performance enclosure. Through its integration of material responsibility, passive systems, and efficient building organization, Oasis creates a sustainable model for living in the desert—resilient, resource-conscious, and deeply connected to place.

Project Stats

Square Feet

3085

Green Building Designation(s)

Date of Completion

In Design

Project Location

Las Vegas, NV, USA