The Hive House | Ranch Style Home in Paradise Valley

“We don’t go into a project with a preconceived idea of what the house should be,” Cavin Costello explained, principal architect at The Ranch Mine. “Before we start, we have an extensive questionnaire that gets at the heart of how the homeowner wants to live. Based on that we believed starting from scratch was the best way to go.”

The homeowners, a couple with two daughters, revealed that they enjoyed entertaining family and friends and wanted a home with lots of light, open space and indoor/outdoor living.

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“Their answers led us down the path of reimagining the classic Western ranch house,” said Costello. 

The Western ranch style home created by architect Cliff May in the 1930s flourished for two decades. The style is low, linear, asymmetrical and has defined living and sleeping areas. It was a more informal style than traditional homes to that point.

“For this house we took elements of that ranch style and brought it into the 21st century,” said Costello. “At the ranch’s core it’s those lifestyle elements and informality that define it and those are at the heart of this home.”

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Known as “The Hive” because the homeowners wanted a ranch style house that buzzed with activity, the house is an example of building to suit the land. The flag shaped lot has a 300-foot narrow strip of land that provides the only access to the property. It is surrounded by other homes on its six sides. 

“We used this unique shape and privacy to create a home that extends out into the landscape, stretching out to guide friends and family into the embrace of the courtyard style plan,” said Costello. 

Visitors approach the home on a desert boardwalk of concrete stamped to look like wood surrounded by grass and desert shrubs. 

While ranch style homes traditionally have low-pitched roofs, the architects decided to add a gabled entrance to provide the home a defining architectural feature and to give the sense of a grand entrance. It is flanked by flat roofs that maintain the low, linear ranch style and meet the city’s strict height restrictions. 

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The exterior features a mix of material including concrete, stucco and thermal treated wood imported from Finland. The black metal standing seam roof caps off the clean, modern lines and materials of the home. 

Entering the 5,080 square foot five-bedroom, five-bath home, guest’s eyes are directed through the house, stopping at the signature poured concrete floor-to-ceiling fireplace and then through to the back of the house and its full-length window pocket doors that pull the outside in. 

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The Paradise Valley home’s communal living spaces are modern, open and done in contemporary neutral tones. On one side of the living area is a home office and the other side an expansive kitchen, family room and dining area. A glass wine cellar is a focal point. With the entire back of the house windows, natural light flows throughout the space.

Typical of a ranch style house, the bedroom wing is separated from the living area of the house and includes a den, homework area and a mudroom with a dog wash for the family pet. Because the homeowner often has family visits, the Ranch Mine designed a guest house that is separated from the main house by the garage. Guests can access their suite through the garage of a free-standing exterior entrance. 

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Blessed by over 300 days of sun, The Hive was made for outdoor living. The covered patio features a dining area, built-in grill and seating area. Beyond the patio a pool, hot tub and fire pit beckon. With the home’s pocket doors open the indoor and outdoor space flow together creating the perfect Arizona entertaining space. 

The Hive was completed in summer 2021.