Near Joshua Tree, a Sublime Desert Home Embraces Shadows and Sunlight
Drawing inspiration from Japanese architecture and beach umbrellas planted in the sand, Mapa Architects crafts a calming escape at a turbulent time.
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Los Angeles–based fashion insider Francesca Laranga dreamed of creating a different kind of desert getaway. "I wanted this house to be a kind of sacred space," she explains. It’s why she calls the ensuing project, located in the town of Joshua Tree, California, the Tera Haus—tera translates to temple in Japanese.
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Brian Libby
Dwell Contributor
Brian Libby is a Portland-based architecture writer who has contributed to Dwell since 2004. He has also written for The New York Times, Architect, CityLab, Salon, Metropolis, Architectural Record and The Oregonian, among others.
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