The Monument House, also known as Schweitzer House, or just The Monument (constructed 1989–1990) was designed by Josh Schweitzer, as a retreat for close friends and family, which included Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. It is just outside the Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act , it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree forests native to the park...

, in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.

The dwelling is a modern, unique in design, and has been featured in numerous architectural

Architecture

Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 books and magazines. The cubic

Cubism

Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...

 shape, with trapezoidal openings, mirrors the surrounding landscape

Landscape

Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...

, which is dominated by fragmented monzogranite boulders. Building colors also reflect the surroundings with an orange gazebo

Gazebo

A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal, that may be built, in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding or attached to a garden wall, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest...

 found on some boulders and flowers. A drab olive from shrubs and cacti

Cactus

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...

 and blue colors mimic distant ridgelines and the sky.

External links

• http://www.arcspace.com/calif/build/monument.htm
• "STYLE; Rocks of Ages", New York Times, January 2, 1994
• http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XR82S0EWL._SS260_.jpg