Acido Dorado

Acido Dorado is a private house in the desert of Joshua Tree in California, two hours east of Los Angeles. The house sits in a 180 degree nook of a small mountain of rocks. On the outside it presents a long and low chopped and channelled profile with huge mirrored overhangs, hearts, flowers, and 3 colors of acid-tinged metallic gold. The main room is glass walled on three sides with a full kitchen, and a mirrored dining table that seats ten people. The mosaic tiled reflecting pool and spa are basically in the living room. Each of the two matching master suites with glass walls and private atriums planted with ocotillos, has a large shower that is open to the atrium, a teak bench, and a floating mirrored vanity. Ornate wrought iron gates with thousands of metallic gold roses slide into pockets and disappear to open the living room from the front desert plains through to the back patio and rocky hillside. The house can be opened entirely to catch desert breezes.

©Raimund Koch

Exterior contextual view at dusk. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

View of the living room with multiple mirrored surfaces. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Roses and a butterfly ingold painted wrought iron welded onto a grille. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Floating mirrored sink vanity in the bedroom. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Heart cast into the screen’s concrete blocks. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

View of the desert landscape in front of the entrance. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Reflecting pool screened off from the living room by a mirrored sliding door. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Looking into and through the house from the barbecue area in the rear. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Overall view of the living room with mirrored ceiling. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Exterior view of the entrance with gold painted concrete blocks. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.

Exterior view of the entrance. Acido Dorado, Joshua Tree, United States. Architect: Robert Stone Design, 2009.