Mirtilla Alliata di Montereale creates Casa Azzurra desert retreat in California

Italian architect Mirtilla Alliata di Montereale has completed a residence in Joshua Tree with walls tinted in shades of blue to echo the changing desert sky.

Casa Azzurra sits on a 10-acre site in the California desert and overlooks a scenic mountain vista from an elevated position.

The house was designed as a vacation rental for multi-generational families or groups of friends looking for an escape amongst the area's natural beauty.

"Casa Azzurra is more than a retreat in Joshua Tree, it's a place designed for connection, inspired by the effortless hospitality of an Italian summer and the vast tranquility of the desert," said the designer.

The single-storey building comprises two main concrete volumes arranged perpendicular to one another, and connected by an L-shaped wooden pergola.

This structure creates a shaded area for outdoor living spaces, which include a sunken lounge with a fire pit, a dining area, a hot tub and a 30-foot (nine-metre) lap pool.

Textured cat-face stucco across the exterior walls is tinted in five different shades of blue, which "intentionally mirrors the shifting hues of the sky" according to the designer.

The brightest blue walls face a courtyard between the two volumes and form a buffer corridor for accessing the three of the four bedrooms.

Based on Alliata di Montereale’s memories of visiting family in Italy, each bedroom is decorated in a different jewel tone, all contrasting the beige plaster finish in the main living space.

This open-plan room features tall ceilings and large sliding glass doors to the outdoor spaces.

Furniture, textiles and artworks enliven the space, while elements such as the kitchen cabinetry blend into the neutral decor.

"Murano glass fixtures, Salvador Dalí prints, and tactile layers of linen, wood and stone create an atmosphere that is elevated and inviting," said Alliata di Montereale.

The property also includes a separate, smaller guest house offering extra privacy beside the pickleball court, featuring an angular roof and minimalist decor.

Its interior is lined with wood panels, and the custom platform bed is positioned for stargazing through a row of angled windows above.

Alliata di Montereale studied at SCI-Arc, and has worked for architects such as Frank Gehry and Kulapat Yantrasast.

Located east of Los Angeles, the area around Joshua Tree National Park is home to several innovative residences, including the mirror-clad Invisible House that reflects its desert surrounds, and a wood-and-stucco house and art studio based on mid-century Eichler homes.

The region is also a popular glamping destination, with options ranging from an Airstream site with a clubhouse informed by Quonset huts to a pair of gabled cabins built from weathering steel.

The photography is by Katya Grozovskaya.

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