The Whitehorse

The Whitehorse Residence was designed and built in collaboration with the Design Build Bluff program, which provides homes for deserving Navajo families in the Four Corners area. This award-winning residence was constructed in just three months with a budget of $30,000 and made extensive use of salvaged and recycled materials.

Because the site is located off the grid, a significant portion of the budget was dedicated to infrastructure, including sewer, water catchment systems, and solar hot water systems. The design was conceptualized as a hybrid between a pole barn and a trailer home, echoing familiar structures found in the surrounding landscape.

Materials included recycled 4'x10' pallets adapted as rain screens, sandblasted aluminum panels, mud plaster sourced from local soils, a lightweight concrete floor, and an energy-efficient rocket stove. The result is a sustainable and resourceful off-grid home design that blends innovation, cultural sensitivity, and environmental stewardship.