BESPOKE DESERT GEM

The renowned team of Parolo Builders LLC, Stratton Architects, and the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty presents a custom residence on 9-plus acres surrounded by lush high desert natural beauty and the landmark McDowell Mountains in north Scottsdale.

22805 N Church Road, Scottsdale, Arizona
$9,850,000

DAVID M. BROWN

Those with an astute sense for the best, the financial means to demand it, and the desire for serenity will find their bliss at this North Scottsdale estate. “It’s an island estate in the desert,” says Frank Aazami, RLSIR Brand Ambassador, principal of the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Scottsdale. “It’s 9-plus acres with the feel of 25. It’s super protected to ensure your privacy and peace.”

​

“This is a one-of-a-kind site that requires our respect for what we’re building on: sacred Sonoran beauty,” says Parolo’s Gideon Zeidler of Parolo Builders LLC, with 40-plus years of build and development experience. He and business partner Mike Johnson have recently sold six projects in adjacent Pinnacle Peak Vistas, so they are very familiar with the affluent locale.

​

This offering is a premier residential package that combines award-winning architecture in prestigious Pinnacle Peak Heights with forever views on 9.4 gently rolling acres along a wash with the protected backdrop of the McDowells. The naturally lush parcel has indigenous flora and fauna in Earth’s most biologically diverse desert.

​

Envisioned by Paradise Valley-based architect Stratton Andrews, AIA, the 8,310-square-foot home is build-to-suite. It will be completed on a trapezoidal-shaped parcel at about 2,300 feet elevation, approximately 1,000 feet higher than central Scottsdale, making the desert summers cooler than most of the city.

​

The one-level home will comprise four ensuite bedrooms, including a split primary suite; an attached casita with separate guest entry; seven bathrooms; and a 7-car garage. A bonus subterranean level, made possible by the 10-foot elevation drop north to south on the property, invites a car lover to add more garage space. Or you can use the area for a gym, a theater, a golf simulator, a wine room, or any other space on your wish list.

​

“This is the most private and protected lot in the area with an abundance of naturally vegetated land that will not be built on,” says co-lister Mike Snep of Russ Lyons. “Because you’re building a home of this very high caliber, why not build it with the peace of mind that you’re going to have this view today, tomorrow, and thereafter? For those who love biking and hiking, it’s a dream come true. The home has privacy, peace of mind, and views everywhere and forever.”

​

“You can do almost anything with the property. You’re not jamming a 15,000-square-foot home onto an acre lot,” Parolo’s Johnson explains. “There’s room for all your toys, a putting green, extra garages and bays for car collectors, bocce ball, pickleball and sports courts, and an event lawn.”

​

A Home That Respects the Desert

Andrews calls the style Mid-century Modern, with long soaring horizontal planes that create an abundance of window overhangs and shaded outdoor living space, affirming the inside/ out Arizona lifestyle at its finest. The design process included a solar study for optimum natural lighting and locations for enhanced sun protection.

​

He derived the long linear form from the topography and site constraints. “The plan was build to the land,” Andrews says. “The Rawhide Basin abuts the lot, creating a long strip of elevated terrain perfectly situated for this home to capitalize on views. Not only was the home situated to capture both mountain and sunset views from all angles, but the rooftop view terrace, indoor-outdoor bars, and outdoor dining spaces are an entertainer’s paradise and allow the homeowners to enjoy the beautiful Sonoran Desert all year long.”

​

The lot size has allowed Andrews to orchestrate a dramatic gated entry to a motor court centered by a focal-point water feature. You ascend gradually to the foyer through a series of landscaped terraces. These stairways and the roof planes above them establish a grand welcome to the home.

​

The diverse palette of luxury-level materials will celebrate the site and the architecture. These include heavy mortar-washed DC cobblestone, dark bronze metal accents, glass, concrete, and tile. The team is considering all building material options, including steel to maintain the home’s clean linear design and the Mid-century Modern inspiration.

​