Spiral Architects

Spiral Architects Vernacular-inspired and regionally-appropriate residential architecture serving Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Tucson/Catalina Foothills; based in Tucson.

Gene Kniaz, Architect. Spiral Architects is a custom residential architectural design firm based in Tempe, Arizona. It was launched in 2013 by architect Gene Kniaz, after a long tenure at Oz Architects, Inc., first as a Senior Architect, then Director of Residential Services, and for the final 6 years as a Principal of the firm. We're currently busy working on excellent residential projects (new construction and select renovation/remodel projects) in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Tucson.

There’s a reason this view stopped people mid-scroll.At Ame Bohème, the pool courtyard was designed as the emotional cen...
06/19/2026

There’s a reason this view stopped people mid-scroll.

At Ame Bohème, the pool courtyard was designed as the emotional center of the house — a place where architecture, landscape, shade, and water all pull together into one desert room.

The house steps down toward the pool in broad stone terraces, creating places to sit, gather, lounge, and look back toward the mountain beyond. Heavy timber, plaster, stone, and deep overhangs give the courtyard its sense of permanence, while the water and planting soften everything just enough.

This is the kind of Arizona luxury that interests us most: not over-scaled, not over-styled, and not disconnected from place.

Just architecture that understands the desert — and knows how to make it feel effortless.

Interiors: ⁠
Pool: ⁠
Stucco: starplastering.com⁠
Stone: ⁠

A room can change character simply by opening to another one.At Ame Bohème, the transition from the main living space to...
06/18/2026

A room can change character simply by opening to another one.
At Ame Bohème, the transition from the main living space to the covered exterior lounge was designed to feel effortless — not like crossing a threshold, but like moving deeper into the house’s own rhythm.

The timber ceiling continues overhead, the plaster walls hold the space in quiet relief, and the stone wall beyond gives the outdoor room its weight and permanence. It is shaded, grounded, and relaxed — a place for slow afternoons, desert evenings, and the kind of indoor-outdoor living that only works when the architecture does more than just add big openings.

This is where the house becomes less about rooms and more about atmosphere.

Interiors: ⁠
Stone: ⁠

At Ame Bohème, the exposed timber structure gives the great room its rhythm before anything else enters the frame. The b...
06/17/2026

At Ame Bohème, the exposed timber structure gives the great room its rhythm before anything else enters the frame. The beams, plank ceiling, plaster walls, and polished concrete floor create a calm architectural shell — open and expansive, but still warm and grounded.

The living area is designed to feel relaxed rather than formal, with the kitchen close enough to remain part of the conversation and the large openings pulling the desert landscape into the room.

This is the kind of desert-inspired design we like best: not cold, not overly polished, and not chasing trend. Just honest materials, careful proportion, and a little bit of bohemian ease.

Natural materials. Honest structure. Quiet luxury.In this kitchen at Âme Bohème, every element was selected to create a ...
06/03/2026

Natural materials.
Honest structure.
Quiet luxury.

In this kitchen at Âme Bohème, every element was selected to create a sense of calm and permanence. Exposed timber beams, hand-applied plaster, warm oak cabinetry, and a restrained palette allow texture, light, and craftsmanship to become the focal point.

Rather than relying on ornament, the design celebrates proportion, material authenticity, and the subtle beauty of things made well. The result is a space that feels both contemporary and timeless—equally suited for everyday living and gathering with family and friends.

At SPIRAL ARCHITECTS, we believe the most enduring homes are those that feel deeply connected to their place, their materials, and the people who live within them.

Interiors: ⁠
Kitchen: .scottsdale⁠

As dusk settles over the desert, architecture begins a different conversation.Stone walls absorb the last warmth of the ...
05/29/2026

As dusk settles over the desert, architecture begins a different conversation.

Stone walls absorb the last warmth of the day while reflected light dances across the water's surface. At Âme Bohème, the pool courtyard becomes more than an outdoor room—it becomes a place for quiet evenings, conversation, and a deeper connection to the landscape beyond.
Designed to feel both timeless and effortless, this Ibiza-inspired retreat embraces the magic that happens after sunset.

✨ Desert evenings.
✨ Stone, water, and light.
✨ Architecture designed for living well.

Interiors: ⁠
Photo:
Pool: ⁠
Stucco: starplastering.com⁠
Stone: ⁠

A sheltered space for gathering, framed in light and stone.⁠⁠A sequence of steps, textures, and shadow leads inward—tran...
04/30/2026

A sheltered space for gathering, framed in light and stone.⁠
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A sequence of steps, textures, and shadow leads inward—transitioning from desert landscape to sheltered living. The architecture doesn’t compete with its setting; it anchors it.⁠
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At dusk, the house softens. Warm light catches the plaster, timber, and stone, while deep overhangs and layered thresholds create a sense of refuge—an outdoor room that feels as intentional as any interior.⁠
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This is desert architecture at its best: grounded, restrained, and quietly immersive.⁠
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Interiors: ⁠
Stucco: starplastering.com⁠
Stone: ⁠
Fabric: ⁠
Pendant Lights: ⁠
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Contractor: ⁠
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A sheltered space for gathering, framed in light and stone.A sequence of steps, textures, and shadow leads inward—transi...
04/30/2026

A sheltered space for gathering, framed in light and stone.

A sequence of steps, textures, and shadow leads inward—transitioning from desert landscape to sheltered living. The architecture doesn’t compete with its setting; it anchors it.

At dusk, the house softens. Warm light catches the plaster, timber, and stone, while deep overhangs and layered thresholds create a sense of refuge—an outdoor room that feels as intentional as any interior.

This is desert architecture at its best: grounded, restrained, and quietly immersive.

Interiors: ⁠
Stucco: starplastering.com⁠
Stone: ⁠
Fabric: ⁠
Pendant Lights: ⁠

Contractor: ⁠

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Where structure meets softness.Exposed timber beams, hand-applied plaster, and a restrained material palette create a ca...
04/29/2026

Where structure meets softness.

Exposed timber beams, hand-applied plaster, and a restrained material palette create a calm, grounded interior—one that feels both timeless and deeply connected to place.

The architecture sets the rhythm, but it’s the layering of textures—wood, stone, fabric, and light—that brings warmth and life to the space. A modern desert home shaped as much by atmosphere as by form.

Interiors: ⁠
Kitchen: .scottsdale

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Desert light. Clean lines. Quiet luxury.This residence is designed to dissolve the boundary between architecture and lan...
04/28/2026

Desert light. Clean lines. Quiet luxury.

This residence is designed to dissolve the boundary between architecture and landscape—where shaded outdoor rooms, textured masonry, and expansive glazing frame the Sonoran desert beyond.
The pool becomes a reflective plane, extending the horizon and pulling the sky into the daily experience of the home. Every material, every proportion, is tuned to climate, light, and place.
A modern interpretation of desert living—rooted in restraint, crafted for comfort.

Interiors: ⁠
Contractor: ⁠
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Address

4723 N La Lomita
Catalina Foothills, AZ
85718

Telephone

+14805406017

Website

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