What is a modern or contemporary custom home in Arizona?

Britannica describes the International Style, the root of modern architecture, by "rectilinear forms," "large expanses of glass," and "light, taut plane surfaces devoid of applied ornamentation," usually with a flat roof and smooth walls. A modern or contemporary custom home today is built on that same clean, simple geometry: open floor plans and almost no applied ornament. The two words differ in a useful way. Modern points to that specific historical movement and its mid-century descendants. Contemporary just means the current moment, so it shifts over time and is broader.

In Arizona, the desert-tuned version of this look has its own name: desert contemporary. This page explains what modern and contemporary mean, how the look performs in the desert, where it appears in the metro, what it costs, and how it clears HOA review. For the specifically Arizona version, see what is desert contemporary architecture and is it right for Arizona.

What modern and contemporary mean, and how they differ

Modern and contemporary describe the same clean, ornament-free family of design, but modern is a fixed historical style while contemporary is whatever is current. Knowing the difference helps you talk to an architect without confusion.

Modern architecture is the 20th-century movement and its offshoots: the International Style, mid-century modern, and Bauhaus-influenced design. Britannica dates the International Style to the "1920s and '30s," when architects like Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier stripped away ornament in favor of "rectilinear forms" and glass. A modern home in this sense follows those fixed rules.

Contemporary simply means "of right now." A contemporary home today usually shares modern's clean lines but mixes in current ideas: warmer materials, softer forms, energy-smart features, and indoor-outdoor living. Because it tracks the present, what counts as contemporary keeps changing.

The shared features either way:

• Rooflines. Flat or single-slope shed roofs, hidden behind parapets. No steep gables.
• Massing. Clean rectangular volumes, often stretched horizontally or stacked in simple blocks.
• Glass and openness. Large windows, sliding glass walls, and open-plan interiors that flow room to room.
• Materials. Smooth stucco, concrete, steel, and glass, with wood for warmth. Surfaces are flush and detailed precisely.
• Color and ornament. Restrained palettes and almost no applied trim. The materials and light are the decoration.

For the cleanest desert version that adds local stone and earth tones, see what is desert contemporary architecture and is it right for Arizona. For the deeper philosophy behind building this way in the desert, see what is organic architecture or Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie style in Arizona.

How a modern home performs in the Arizona desert

A modern home performs well in the Arizona desert when its big glass is shaded and oriented right, since the same windows that frame views can overheat the house if they face the wrong way. The clean look needs careful climate design to back it up.

The first tool is shading. The U.S. Department of Energy's passive solar guidance is clear that south glass needs help in summer: "An overhang or other devices, such as awnings, shutters, and trellises will be necessary to block summer solar heat gain." Modern flat-roof overhangs and shade fins do this while still framing the view. Orientation matters too, since DOE advises main glass face "within 30 degrees of true south" and stay unshaded in winter, which lets a desert home take in low winter sun while blocking the harsh west and high summer sun.

The flat roof is an asset. Because it is hidden from the street, it is the perfect place for a reflective cool roof. DOE notes a conventional roof "can reach temperatures of 150°F or more on a sunny summer afternoon," while "a reflective roof could stay more than 50°F cooler." A modern home can also use thermal mass in its concrete and stone surfaces to buffer the day-to-night swing. The honest catch is that glass loses more heat than a wall, so a modern desert home leans on low-E glass, good insulation, and a right-sized air conditioner to stay comfortable. Done right, the result is a bright, efficient home. For the full approach, see how to design a custom home to stay cool in the Arizona heat and our cool roof glossary entry.

Where modern and contemporary homes appear in the metro

Modern and contemporary homes are concentrated in North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, central Phoenix, and the high-end gated communities, where the clean look has become the default for new luxury custom builds. Hillside and view lots especially favor the low, glass-forward profile because it sits quietly on the land and points every room at a view.

Arizona has a real modern pedigree. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West near Scottsdale and the mid-century desert modernism that followed gave the metro a deep modern tradition that today's desert contemporary builds on. The style reads as both current and locally rooted. For that lineage, see what is organic architecture or Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie style in Arizona.

Cost and complexity to expect

A modern or contemporary home usually costs more per square foot than a conventional style, because clean detailing and big glass are unforgiving and expensive to build right. The simple look hides real complexity.

Where the money goes:

• Glass and steel. Floor-to-ceiling windows and multi-panel sliding doors are premium items, and the steel that frames a column-free glass wall adds structural cost.
• Exacting detail. Flat parapets, hidden gutters, flush reveals, and floating cabinetry leave nowhere to hide a flaw, so the labor to hit those tolerances costs more.
• Flat roof. Flat roofs need careful drainage, waterproofing, and a reflective surface.
• Finishes. Large-format tile, seamless surfaces, and custom millwork add up.

Because labor and material prices move, confirm current pricing (as of 2026) and get a line-item bid. Jematell Homes prices a modern build off your actual plans and finishes, so the number reflects the glass, steel, and detailing you choose, not a generic per-foot average.

How modern style clears HOA design review

Modern style clears review easily in communities written for the desert contemporary look, but it can struggle in older communities whose guidelines were written around Mediterranean or traditional styles. The fit depends heavily on the community.

Points to confirm with your committee:

• Style fit. Some older guidelines favor pitched tile roofs and traditional detailing, which can put a flat-roof modern home at odds with the rules. Read the design guidelines before you buy the lot.
• Color and reflectance. Communities cap exterior color by Light Reflectance Value (LRV), and bright white modern walls can exceed the cap. Confirm the body color falls inside the band. See LRV paint color rules in North Scottsdale luxury communities.
• Glass and glare. Some committees limit large reflective glass on view sides to prevent glare across the desert.
• Roofs. Flat roofs are favored in desert communities, but the surface still faces a reflectance rule. See what roof types and slopes do luxury Arizona communities allow.

For how the whole approval runs, see how HOA design review affects building a custom home, and to weigh modern against the other styles, the hub: how do I choose an architectural style for my Arizona custom home. Match the community's palette and roof rules, and a modern home is a clean fit in any community built for the desert look.

How Jematell Homes helps

We design to your lot's zoning envelope from the first sketch. Reach out and we will talk through how this applies to your specific lot and plan.

Sources

• Britannica: International Style (architecture); rectilinear forms, glass, flat roofs, no applied ornament; 1920s-30s
• U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Cool Roofs (roof surface temperatures; reflectance)
• U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Passive Solar Home Design (orientation, thermal mass, overhang shading)