Desert Refuge

Unitarian Universalist Campus | Tucson, Arizona

Desert Refuge is a proposal for a unitarian universalist campus in Tucson, Arizona. Unitarian Universalists are people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Of their fundamental teachings is the freedom to search for their own spiritual journey. This journey is often associated with a connection to the natural environment through meditation and self discovery. The campus lies on the south west side of the site nestled between two series of rock outcroppings on the east and west and, the Tucson mountain range to the south. Through the manipulation of land , walls are established to slow down and harvest water which feed into water basins that revegetate dry spots around the campus. The composition of the campus offers the opportunity for users to experience and engage with the natural environment through a series of pathways. These pathways shape different experiences one could take. Whether it is through large open public spaces, hidden meditative spaces or natural desert courtyards.