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The Westberg Residence
CR Ranch, Sedona
Completed
2007
At
the base of Cathedral Rock, the Westberg Residence
is a modern composition of strong, sheltering and
organically derived forms and spaces that are tailored
to the owner’s ideas and goals.
The
home is set away from the road, bordering the National
Forest. Wrapping a welcoming motor courtyard, the
home consists of the main house aligned with towering
Cathedral Rock to the north and a one-bedroom studio
to the south. On the east side, a three-car garage
connects the two wings and is topped by an astronomy
roof deck. The stepped, rounded massing of the home
reflects the surrounding red rock landforms and
integrates the home into the landscape.

Organic Design permeates the home. The driveway follows
the curving forms of a dry wash. The motor court is
crafted in the abstract image of a box canyon, similar
to the curving intricacies within Cathedral Rock.
The articulations of the home’s west end echo
the buttresses of the Cathedral. At the far left of
the picture, a multi-featured negative-edge pool is
positioned to capture the warm west sun and to enjoy
views of Oak Creek Valley. The negative-edge also
provides a beautiful waterfall and a reflecting pool
viewed when approaching the entry. The Master Suite
overlooks the pool and spa.

A dry wash created in the various paving materials
runs through the midst of the motor courtyard. The
wash is functional as the drainage swale for driveway
runoff and also becomes a recirculating water feature
as shown in the photo. The main house’s south-facing
porches are in alcoves that collect the winter sun.
The primary entry is in the central alcove. The tall
saguaro cactus is a painted steel sculpture that is
internally lit.

The curves of the home balance the ruggedness of the
stonework. Planter features at the entry also provide
art display space and a bench. In general, all homes
are designed by Eric Brandt to blend the structure
with the surroundings, and to integrate the spaces
with their inhabitants.

Arizona Moss Rock anchors the home to the site. The
stone arch frames the view of distant hot-air balloons
from the breakfast nook at sunrise. The barbeque is
nestled and hidden into a niche dividing the main
entry porch from an intimate dining area.

From the entry porch, looking past the entry planter
to the garage portal. The studio is to the far right
of the picture. Cactus grow from many pots on the
roof.
The main entry door is fitted into one of the grotto-like
alcoves of the south face of the main house. The monumental
sconce is by Sedona artists, Larry and Gayle Taylor.
The extravagant 11 x 9 foot cast-glass entry door
is an original work by artist BJ Katz of Meltdown
Glass of Chandler Arizona. It is illuminated by interior
and exterior skylights directly above the door.

Passing thru the entry door into the entry hall, the
subtleness of the entry progression changes dramatically.
Here, the absolute full height and power of Cathedral
Rock is captured in an 8 x 17 foot single-glazed opening
at the far end of the entry hall. The technology to
create this massive window evolved during construction
to allow for this undivided aperture. In this photo,
the built-in solar shades are drawn down across all
these northeast-facing windows. A baby grand piano
nestles into the bay at the end of the hall. Beyond,
at the north patio, is a waterfall aligned with the
skewed east entry wall. The cascade flows into a raised
koi pond. The slightly skewed wall focuses the view
and diffuses Cathedral Rock’s powerful energy.
All the varying planes that frame and create the view
connect the inhabitants to the landscape.

The dynamic enclosure of the home and the energy of
Cathedral Rock are carefully subdued to obtain the
elegant calm of the home. The spaces are crafted to
provide a restful tranquility. In this grand view,
we are looking from the dining room past the entry
hall to the living room. The fireplace is a focal
sculptural form that directs the energy of the home
down into the heart and hearth.

This is a closer view of the living room fireplace.
All fireplaces are fitted with gas flames through
crushed glass. The sculptural art glass prisms above
are by artist Deanne Sabeck of Sedona’s Kuivato
Gallery.

From the living room, the media room is entered through
double Meltdown cast glass doors that recess into
the walls when open. All interior finishes have been
intuitively selected by the owner. The color palate
is in cool contrast to the red desert.

Here is the view from the granite-topped kitchen island
past the entry hall to the living room. The kitchen
has views to both Cathedral Rock and to the Verde
Valley School spires. The home’s monumental
scale continues here. Fifteen-foot ceilings allow
Cathedral Rock views deep into the home, but careful
architectural detailing still provides the comfortable,
human scale.

The north patio is nestled into the forested hillside
and features stone benches that step in height and
a raised dining area overlooking the Koi pond. Red
rock views are in every direction. This photo looks
west to the screened porch and pool.

The screened porch opens west to the pool and north
to Cathedral Rock. The automatic solar shades are
utilized here to provide the retractable screens.

The stone-rimmed spa pours into the organically designed
swimming pool. The owner chose the turquoise pool
color to recall the travertine pools of Havasu in
the Grand Canyon. This photo also accurately captures
the beautiful purple brown stucco color used to highlight
all the sculptural forms of the home.

Within a frameless-corner bay window, the master bathtub
looks directly over the pool to Thunder Mountain in
the distance.

This is the view from the bathtub with Cathedral Rock
towering over the pool. The strong natural forms inspire
the Eric Brandt-designed pool and landscaping.
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