Brittlebush. Experimental desert shelter.

The design-build construction by designer and graduate student, Simón De Agüero is part of the Shelter Construction Program, promoted by Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. The construction is made from local and recovered materials.



The goal of the Shelter Construction Program in Taliesin West, Arizona is to encourage students to improve their design-build skills as an experience that would give them a deeper appreciation of the creative process of a team effort and in relationship to nature.



The first thing Simón De Agüero did was carefully explore the desert landscape, envisioning a winter shelter that would be a harmonious addition to the environment without negatively impacting on it.



The structural steel used to support the shade-cloth (or vinyl) membrane is 90% recycled. The walls surrounding the patio, fireplace and bed are all made from rammed earth taken directly from the property. All the wood used for the formwork was salvaged from onsite renovation waste.





The building’s layout is based on the social principle, meaning there are no sharp distinctions between interior and exterior. So the indoor-outdoor terrace provides an invitation to spend time together. The patio also has a meditative Zen garden, and it is all designed to integrate with the larger whole: nature.



The project manager, Simón De Agüero worked with the collaboration of Erik Krautbauer. The project was supervised by Taliesin faculty and shade-cloth fabrication expertise was provided by experts in this field. Brittlebush can be visited on the Taliesin “Desert Shelter Tour”.

Project: Simón De Agüero
in collaboration with Erik Krautbauer
Shelter Construction Program, Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, USA.
Year: 2010
Photos: Courtesy of Simón De Agüero
Awards: 2011 AIA Graduate Portfolio Award