The design started not with the homes, but with the water. In a desert, that makes sense. Dozens of earthen basins and rain gardens are scattered across the site so the water soaks into the earth where it falls, within 20 minutes of a storm. And all water from toilets, sinks, and showers is treated on-site through a constructed wetland, and then pumped back up to irrigate the landscape.
The community sits on 43 acres, but only 8 are occupied by houses. The rest is open Sonoran Desert, permanently preserved (centuries-old Saguaro cactus and all) and accessible to all. Five mountain ranges are visible on the horizon.
The homes are built from thick, locally-sourced adobe blocks — walls that hold the cool and resist the heat. Heating and cooling costs run about 75% lower than those of a typical Tucson home.