In the flurry of construction in the Phoenix area, ultra-luxury homes sell out quickly. That’s because only about a dozen residences are built in exclusive communities with eye-popping amenities and dramatic desert views. Unless buyers move quickly (as in, before homes are built), they miss out.
Stratton Andrews knows this rarified world. The Paradise Valley-based architect has been designing signature homes in some of the most expensive and exclusive enclaves near Arizona’s capital city.
The 32-year-old’s most recent work, an almost 12,000-square-foot home in the new Silver Sky development in Paradise Valley, recently won a 2023 design award from the National Assn. of Home Builders. The residence is nicknamed Nova, a nod to Andrews’ “meteoric rise in the world of architecture,” according to a Silver Sky press release.
Where do you start with plans for such a large and luxurious home with a price tag of $18.5 million?
“You start at the core of the home because everything from there sometimes falls into place,” says Andrews, who founded his firm Stratton Architects.
The core, or heart of the home, consists of a great room or living room and fireplace. The kitchen and dining room lead out to the “extremities” of the building where architectural details maximize the concept of indoor-outdoor living, Andrews says.
Nova is currently in the works. When completed, the residence will have six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, three half bathrooms, a five-car garage, a spa treatment area with steam room, and other amenities. A separate casita with a bedroom, private pool and pickleball court is also planned.
Andrews describes the estate’s stately style as European transitional, described as an “aesthetic that’s an old European estate” melded with modern clean lines of glass and steel, he says. His firm will also be designing several other residences in the community.
Andrews has made his mark on some of the most prestigious Paradise Valley communities, including Crown Canyon Estates, which places a dozen luxury homes on a 30-acre site surrounded by a nature preserve.
The award for One-the-Boards Single-Family Production Home will be presented at the 2024 International Builders’ Show from February 27-29 in Las Vegas.
Along with Stratton Architects, the team bringing Nova to life includes Arcadia Custom Builders, interior designer Holly Wright Design, Creative Designs in Lighting and landscaping from Berghoff Design Group.
Chris Morrison, Kirk Linehan and Babbi Gabel at RETSY are the listing agents for the development.