The Brokery, Phoenix

The Brokery houses an independent real estate company working the Arcadia and Biltmore areas of Phoenix. The building is the outcome of a four-year process that began when executive Tucker Blalock bought the then vacant lot.

Studio Ma drew its vocabulary from local landmarks, starting with Camelback Mountain, and from the colours and textures of the surrounding desert. Durable materials were part of the brief: every component was selected on combined criteria of longevity, appearance and performance.

The external walls are designed as a rainscreen, faced in Kebony Clear left unsealed to develop a silver-grey patina. The modified wood was chosen for its durability and for its behaviour under the extreme temperature swings characteristic of the Arizona climate. Photography: Bill Timmerman.