The Whitehorse
The Whitehorse Residence was designed and built in collaboration with DesignBuildBLUFF, a non-profit organization that partners with the Navajo Nation to create environmentally responsible homes for deserving families in Utah’s desert southeast. The program immerses first-year architecture students in the region’s culture and context, offering hands-on experience in sustainable, community-driven design.
Constructed in just three months on a $30,000 budget, the home makes inventive use of salvaged and recycled materials. Reclaimed pallets form rain screens, sandblasted aluminum panels reflect desert light, and locally sourced mud plaster blends the structure into its surrounding landscape. Off-grid infrastructure, including solar hot water and water catchment systems, supports self-sufficient living in this remote setting.
Conceptually, the design bridges the familiar typologies of a pole barn and a trailer home, reinterpreting both through a modern, sustainable lens. The result is an award-winning residence that embodies ingenuity, cultural respect, and environmental stewardship.
Client: Design Build Bluff Non-Profit
Architect: Onyx Design Collective
