- Project: Black Desert House
- Architect: Oller & Pejic Architecture
- Location: United States, Twentynine Palms, California
- Year: 2012
- Area: 145 m2
- Photography: Marc Angeles
Hidden deep within the arid terrain of Yucca Valley, California, this extraordinary residence by Oller & Pejic Architecture is not merely a house—it is a philosophical response to place, light, and materiality. Designed to disappear into the desert, it is a home imagined as a shadow, a fleeting trace that honors the sublime stillness of its surroundings.
A Design Born from Site and Silence
From the first meeting, architects Marc Oller and Michele Pejic recognized the rare opportunity of working on this pristine, cathedral-like site. With a long history of failed attempts by previous owners to build here, the challenge was not only technical but spiritual—how to construct without disturbing the desert’s quiet majesty.
The client’s one guiding instruction—“build a house like a shadow”—became both concept and compass. In the blinding light of the desert, where the sun erases detail and texture, it is the shadows that offer the eye rest and clarity. This vision led to the creation of a residence that absorbs light by day and dissolves into darkness by night, mirroring the desert’s dual nature.
A Shard in the Landscape
The house was imagined as an obsidian shard, a negative space left behind after a mountain was scraped away. Rather than echoing the mid-century modern styles typical of the region, the design embraces a bold, contemporary language—faceted, grounded, and elemental.
The layout follows a linear path: living areas at one end, bedrooms at the other, with the kitchen and dining space anchoring the center. All rooms wrap around a central inner courtyard, which acts as a thermal buffer and a protected oasis in the harsh climate. This courtyard forms a contemplative entry sequence and draws the experience inward—from desert expanse to intimate dwelling.
A Modern Cliff Dwelling
The living room is partially recessed into the hillside, forming a solid earthen backdrop that echoes ancient Southwest cliff dwellings. Marc Oller referred to the space as a “chic sleeping bag”—a tactile shelter from which to gaze across the open desert. The house does not impose on the land; it yields, nestles, and listens.
Inside, dark hues enhance the primordial, cave-like atmosphere. Daylight renders the interior muted and recessive, emphasizing the framed views outward. By night, the house dematerializes entirely, as soft lighting blends with the vast canopy of stars, forming a backdrop for introspection and stillness.
A True Collaborative Effort
The creation of this home was a deeply collaborative process. The architects worked closely with the client, builder Avian Rogers, and dedicated subcontractors who all understood the uniqueness of the project. Every line drawn and material placed reflected a commitment to craftsmanship, patience, and vision.
This Yucca Valley house by Oller & Pejic Architecture is more than an architectural achievement—it is a meditation in form, light, and restraint. Designed to evoke shadow rather than structure, it honors the land by vanishing into it.
