Location: 388 S Convent Avenue, Tucson, Arizona

Price: $1,695,000

Year Built: 1988

Footprint: 2,819 square feet (3 bedrooms, 4 baths)

Lot Size: 0.12 Acres 

From the Agent: “Welcome to a contemporary sanctuary in historic Barrio Viejo. Tucked away on a quiet lane off South Convent Avenue, this exceptional custom residence offers the perfect blend of timeless craftsmanship and modern comfort. Designed with thoughtful precision, this home is a celebration of natural materials, seamless indoor/outdoor living, and a deep respect for history—while feeling fresh, open, and contemporary. Just a short stroll from downtown Tucson’s vibrant arts, dining, and cultural scene, this home offers rare peace and privacy while keeping you connected to the pulse and energy of the city.”

Welcome to How They Pulled It Off, where we take a close look at one particularly challenging aspect of a home design and get the nitty-gritty details about how it became a reality.

Midcentury buildings aren’t exactly known for their environmental efficiency—after all, they’re products of a postwar era marked by economic optimism, booming technology, and little concern for sustainability. And for a 1953 home outside of Chicago, that was very much the case. 

In the 2010s, a young family of five had moved in, living first as renters and then several years later as owners after they purchased the three-bedroom home. At that point, they knew and loved the home, but were looking to update it—it was showing its age, especially from an energy efficiency standpoint.

The family sought the services of Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects, a local architecture firm specializing in passive and zero-energy buildings, which also has experience updating midcentury designs. Early correspondence between the family and Bassett-Dilley included a wish list (15 items long!)  that focused on maintaining the essence and design of the midcentury home while updating the aging electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and windows. Also on the list of “wants”: sustainability and resiliency measures such as solar panels, reclaiming wood, and introducing a tornado-proof room.

• Some RV parks are shedding their rustic image and going full luxury, with $1 million lots, resort-style casitas, private pools, and wine cellars. Here’s how formerly temporary pit stops are becoming more like mini high-end neighborhoods—and driving up costs in desirable locations. (The Wall Street Journal)

• Robert De Niro, the actor and now hotelier, has a clear vision: design that whispers wealth, not screams it. That means trading chandeliers and marble for more understated luxury at The Beach Club, his new retreat on Barbuda. (Wallpaper)

• As other teams chase shiny new stadiums, the Dodgers are betting on preservation. Led by architect Janet Marie Smith, Dodger Stadium’s $100 million renovation honors its original midcentury modern design while adding player nap rooms, fan plazas, and more. (The Architect’s Newspaper)

• After a century-long ban on swimming in the Seine, Parisians can now take a dip thanks to a $1.65 billion Olympics-driven cleanup that made the notoriously polluted river safe. Here, a New York Times reporter tests the waters herself. (The New York Times)

• California just passed two laws that roll back CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), clearing the way for infill housing, childcare centers, and high-tech manufacturers. The laws are prompting cheers from pro-housing advocates and alarm from environmentalists. Governor Gavin Newsom is calling it a win for “abundance,” but critics are skeptical. (Bloomberg)

Top photo by Andre Burghard

Peter Braithwaite and his young family have long felt the pull of Terence Bay, a small fishing village just outside their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They regularly visit property they own there, six acres of rocky, forested land overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and what Braithwaite describes as a “half-bog, half-pond.” Until recently, however, the property only had structures for Braithwaite’s design-build firm, including a cabinetry workshop; there was nowhere for his family to stay overnight.

Then an opportunity to add a retreat presented itself. A few years ago, Braithwaite, who’s also an adjunct professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Architecture in Halifax, was asked to lead a two-week design-build program called Free Lab where students sketch, model, design, and ultimately construct a small to mid-size project. At first, Braithwaite planned to create a communal boathouse with his students on nearby shared land, but after neighborhood pushback, he proposed a pivot. Why not use his own property instead?

From there, the idea evolved into an experimental A-frame residence that would serve as a second home for Braithwaite’s family and a laboratory for his students. Together, they set out to reimagine the traditional form in a contemporary way.

As the weather heats up, few architectural features feel more seductive than a swimming pool. Whether it’s carved into rock, cantilevered over a hillside, or tucked discreetly into an urban courtyard, the best pools offer more than just a place to cool off—they create a dynamic dialogue between architecture and landscape.

In this round-up, we dive into some of the most memorable pools featured in Dwell. From a pond-like pool set into a rocky coastal landscape in Mexico to a infinity pool that stretches out over bushland in the hills above Sydney, these projects are a splash of inspiration for summer living.

In Mexico, a Modern Palapa and Pool Are Carved Into a Rocky Slope

A Mesmerizing Pool Dominates This Brazilian Home

This “Sea Snail” Home Is Built From Thousands of Tiny Fossils