Arizona Courtyard House is a pavilion constructed with a system of standardized Corten steel structural components. The home demonstrates the flexibility of this sustainable building system to create a house of linear volumes, arranged to define a courtyard, with the main house to the south and east, a fitness center and lap pool to the north, and mountain views to the west.
It’s set on a plinth of concrete that rises 16” above the terrain, used to redirect stormwater around the house. The house is an open plan, based on a 7’ x 7’ modular system with columns spaced at 21’ on center. The two-way structural framing system allows for extensive cantilevers.
Corten steel was selected for its sustainable characteristics, and aesthetics, as its weathering is complementary to desert colors. The structural components are open to view, creating a contrast to the highly polished concrete floor throughout the house. The grid of beams overhead defines the ceiling and flows beyond the glass enclosure to create outdoor rooms in the courtyard, blurring the distinction between inside and out. Perforated, Corten roof panels allow filtered daylight from the sun to reach the courtyard below.
The exterior enclosure of the house is glass, with perforated sunscreens and press-formed louvers layered in front of the glass where shade or privacy is needed. This creates a sense of daylight in all interior spaces and a rich texture of shades and shadows on the exterior.
From architecture to agriculture to wildlife preservation, these Valley residents are proving that caring for the environment can be a part of our everyday lives.
David Hovey Jr.
President, chief operating officer and principal architect, Optima David Hovey Jr.’s passion for sustainability runs in the family. “My parents started doing green roofs back in the 1980s,” the architect says, referring to Eileen and David Hovey Sr., who founded Optima in 1978. Hovey, who joined the firm right after earning his masters degree in architecture, says sustainability is a driving force at Optima. “It’s a design approach that keeps the people and the environment at the forefront,” he says. The company’s latest project, Scottsdale’s Optima McDowell Mountain Village, will be the first residential development in the Southwest to be built under the International Green Construction and International Energy Conservation codes, and will have the nation’s largest private rainwater harvesting system. And, in keeping with the firm’s mission, it will make heavy use of biophilic design. “Biophilic is a trendy term right now, but it’s simply about connection to nature,” Hovey says. “So, green roofs, floor-to-ceiling glass, terraces, our signature vertical landscaping—those are all biophilic design.”
A modular prefabricated—meaning manufactured in an off-site factory—home by architects David Hovey Jr., AIA, and David Hovey Sr., FAIA, rests lightly on the land. With limited onsite construction, it was possible to maintain more than 90% of the boulders and vegetation. The system used to build this dwelling is sustainable up to the LEED Platinum level and can be built quickly and efficiently in any location, climate or terrain.
Known for developing $1 billion luxury condominium and apartment communities in Scottsdale, Optima is now building single-family detached luxury homes using modular building system technology.
Located in the heart of Arizona’s most affluent town of Paradise Valley, luxury living and modular design meet at the remaining multimillion-dollar home on the 4.5-acre, three-home compound of Optima Paradise Valley.
Situated on more than one acre, the remaining 2,641-square-foot home is priced at $3.99 million and is designed with privacy, comfort and convenience in mind, a press release stated.
The compound was developed by award-winning real estate firm Optima and designed by internationally recognized architects David Hovey Jr. and David C. Hovey.
The homes within Optima Paradise Valley were created using the patent-pending Optima DCHGlobal Modular Factory Built Building System, which is a proprietary architectural system developed by Hovey Jr. and Hovey Sr. that synchronizes standardization with design flexibility in an entirely factory-produced modular system. Building modules are based on Vierendeel steel trusses and can be transported by truck to the site and hoisted into place atop concrete piers by crane, according to the release.
This residence showcases three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious chef-grade kitchen adorned with high-end appliances, a three-car garage and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom stand-alone guest house. In addition to the views of Camelback and Mummy mountains, the home features a courtyard with entertainment space, a lap pool and spa, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen and a covered patio that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living.
The other two homes, which are nearly identical to the remaining home but have an additional 14×36-foot module which adds 489 square feet to the guest houses, have already sold.
The remaining Optima Paradise Valley home is composed of seven steel modules ranging from 18×72 feet to 12×24 feet. The primary house is made up of two 18×72-foot staggered modules connected at the long sides, with three smaller 12×24-foot modules forming the attached three-car garage. The home has a detached guest house comprised of a 14×54-foot module.
“This desert dwelling, ideally situated within the highly coveted town of Paradise Valley, encapsulates a modern interpretation of the old Arizona, compound-style of living,” President and COO Hovey Jr. said in the release. “We knew we had the opportunity to bring something truly special to the market in terms of style, sustainability and process. With these homes located next to one another, their contemporary design relates to one another while still standing out against the Sonoran Desert’s natural terrain. With two of the homes selling within a few months of hitting the market, we know that homeowners are looking for low-impact homes with elevated, upscale design that exemplify luxury living in the Valley.”
The glass and steel truss structure create a transparent design that erases the boundaries between the inside and outside to bring in abundant natural light, while sunshades above the windows shelter the interiors from the desert heat and direct sunlight, the release stated. Punched horizontal panels mounted on the exterior provide both shading and privacy to select areas. Outside, above the courtyard entertainment space, there are elevated horizontal screens that provide shade for the outdoor areas and cast shadow patterns.
The home has been designed with sustainability in mind and is equipped with high-efficiency Variable Refrigerant Flow HVAC systems, which enables the temperature within each room to be controlled independently from the others, as well as all electric appliances and structural steel that has a high-recycled content. The home can also accommodate the future installation of a solar power collection system.
The Optima DCHGlobal MFB homes only take days to fabricate, last longer than a traditional single-family home, reduce waste from the construction process, require less maintenance and utilize the highest quality of building components and finishes, according to the release. Currently, only three other homes have been built using this system, which provides residents with an exclusive homeownership opportunity.
Located within minutes from Scottsdale, Optima Paradise Valley’s location offers residents accessibility to a variety of the area’s most popular outdoor experiences, including world-class golf, hikes and biking trails, as well as some of the state’s acclaimed dining destinations, high-end shopping, entertainment and five-star resorts.
A luxury home in a box? It sounds contradictory, but Optima Inc. has made it happen in Phoenix.
The builder has experience in the luxury field, such as 7190 Optima Kierland in Scottsdale. Optima also received approval this summer to construct Optima McDowell Mountain Village, a $1 billlon luxury community in North Scottsdale.
Under its Optima DCHGlobal Inc. unit, luxury homes are constructed using the company’s patented modular factory building system.
Optima Paradise Valley is a boutique community of three homes. Each structure is built of glass and steel. The module enclosure takes only days to be made in Optima’s factory-controlled environment. The module is then lifted into place and rests on four piers. On-site completion occurs in a matter of hours.
The modules arrive on site fully outfitted with cabinetry, kitchens, and blinds and must only be plugged into utilities. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer great views and give residents a sense of harmonization with the outdoor environment.
Two out of three homes in the community have sold. The remaining home is currently on the market for just under $3.6 million. It’s 2,641 square feet, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The lot covers over 47,000 square feet, and the home has a stand-alone one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house. In addition, there’s a courtyard with multiple entertaining spaces, including a lap pool with spa, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and a covered patio with artificial turf.
Livabl spoke with David Hovey Jr., president of Optima DCHGlobal, Inc. and Optima Holdings, about its Paradise Valley project.
Photo courtesy of Optima DCHGlobal, Inc.
When did the building begin on Optima Paradise Valley?
Construction began in early July 2022 on the three residences.
Was there a reason you chose Paradise Valley (besides land availability)?
Paradise Valley offers lot sizes generally over an acre and views of Mummy Mountain and Camelback; it made it an appealing backdrop for the modern steel and glass prefabricated structures.
What would draw customers to that area?
Customers are drawn to Paradise Valley because of its central location between Scottsdale, Arcadia, and Biltmore, with world-class resorts and restaurants and the overall lifestyle provided and supported by the area. Paradise Valley attracts people who appreciate high-quality architecture and construction.
What kind of customer is interested in a modular luxury home?
I think a lot of people could be interested in modular luxury homes. Our residences, constructed of glass and steel, provide a different feel than a traditional residence. Our homes attract individuals who appreciate design, architecture, and art or are looking for a unique residence.
Also: lots of people have shown interest who already have property and would like to purchase one or several of these modulars to be installed on their existing property – this includes people with land in Arizona and out of state. There has also been interest from people who want to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on their property, and a prefabricated home due to little disruption to their neighbors and minimal time would be the perfect solution.
Do you think a significant market for modular luxury homes in Phoenix exists? Why?
Yes. I think people are looking for a different product type in lieu of the traditional residential builds that you see around the Valley. In addition, we have proven that we can build faster than typical residential projects.
Photo courtesy of Optima DCHGlobal, Inc.
How long do they take to build?
Construction was completed on all three properties at the end of March 2023—a total construction duration of nine months to complete the three residences and all associated site work.
Are customizations permitted, and if not, does this make them a harder sell?
Customizations are certainly permitted.
Would you like to build more luxury modular communities in Phoenix? Where would your dream location be in the Valley (assuming land is available)?
The prefabricated modules are ideal solutions for flat and hard-to-build lots, such as rocky sites, mountainside lots, and/or drainage issues. I think they would work in any community in Phoenix.
Architect David Hovey Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of the luxury real estate development firm Optima, was internationally recognized with two prestigious awards honoring his proprietary Optima DCHGlobal modular building system including the 2019 Architecture MasterPrize and the 2019 American Architecture Awards.
Valley architect David Hovey Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of the luxury real estate development firm Optima, was internationally recognized with two awards honoring his proprietary Optima DCHGlobal modular building system including the 2019 Architecture MasterPrize and the 2019 American Architecture Award. (Hovey Jr.’s well-known Valley projects include Optima Camelview and Optima Kierland.)
This 5,000-square-foot home made from steel, concrete, and glass took less than five months to build—but it’ll last forever.
Architect David Hovey Jr. has been finessing his prefabrication system since graduate school. When it came to building his own home, which he shares with his wife Misty Hyman and their two-year-old daughter, prefab design was the obvious choice. The home occupies an acre of arid Arizona land in Paradise Valley, with serene views of the mountains to the west.
Valley architect David Hovey Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of the luxury real estate development firm Optima, was internationally recognized with two awards honoring his proprietary Optima DCHGlobal modular building system including the 2019 Architecture MasterPrize and the 2019 American Architecture Award. (Hovey Jr.’s well-known Valley projects include Optima Camelview and Optima Kierland.)
Esteemed architect David Hovey Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of the luxury real estate development firm Optima, was internationally recognized with two prestigious awards honoring his proprietary Optima DCHGlobal modular building system including the 2019 Architecture MasterPrize and the 2019 American Architecture Award.
