Modern Retreat: A Sculptural Landscape
Statement Water Feature Queen Creek

Set in Queen Creek, Arizona, this project transforms a Toll Brothers backyard into a deeply intentional desert retreat, where every element feels both sculptural and spiritual. At its heart stands a monumental water and fire feature, conceived as a modern desert totem. Vertical stone forms rise in rhythm, casting soft shadows that shift throughout the day, evoking canyon walls shaped by time, wind, and water. A dark, textured basalt wall anchors the composition, while a circular fire vessel glows like an ember in the desert night. Together, they embody both reprieve and resilience - water offering relief from the summer heat, and fire providing warmth in winter’s chill.

Rather than centering the design around a pool, this landscape is shaped by experience- by movement, mood, and stillness. Concrete plinths define the spatial procession, guiding visitors along a sculptural pathway of curated plantings and stone. The palette is minimalist yet expressive: mature olive trees bring structure, native grasses introduce rhythm and softness, and sculptural accents feel unearthed rather than installed.

Every material was chosen to harmonize with the architecture while offering contrast, visually and texturally. Artificial turf and gravel are arranged with quiet precision, while low-voltage lighting traces each path like a guiding thread, elevating every transition and pause.

This is a landscape that doesn’t shout - it invites. And in doing so, it expands the definition of luxury desert living: less about excess, more about presence, clarity, and reverence for the land.