• First Phase of Home Sites Released for Sale at Sereno Canyon in North Scottsdale.
• Reservations Being Accepted for Custom Home Sites in North Scottsdale.

Architect Craig Wickersham: A New Vision for Scottsdale, Arizona Land

In a city filled with sprawling mansions, soaring arches and enough columns to put Rome's Colosseum to shame, architect Craig Wickersham knows that sometimes less is more - especially when it comes to preserving the natural beauty of the premier Arizona land in North Scottsdale.

As the man behind the architectural vision of Sereno Canyon, one of the last premier home site properties in the North Scottsdale area, Wickersham is determined to bring a new kind of luxury architecture to the Valley - one based on harmony with the Sonoran Desert, respect for Arizona land and stewardship for future generations.

For a taste of Wickersham's vision, take a look at The Retreat, a resort-style amenity at the heart of Sereno Canyon where residents will enjoy swimming, fitness services and social spaces. With large rocky outcroppings, a stone roof that echoes the curve of the mountain above it and a negative-edge pool that disappears into the horizon, it's a building that reaches out and touches the natural Arizona land that surrounds it.

"The buildings that I'm designing are very site-oriented, very site-specific and very organic," he says of the project. "They are integrated with and made of the materials of the site. A lot of materials that were moved are going to be used in the building. It's not a statement about itself; it's really a statement about harmony."

With three decades of experience designing high-end homes, Wickersham has seen trends come and go in the Scottsdale luxury home market. From stunning Frank Lloyd Wright designs and innovative custom home architecture to row upon row of identical estates and imposing structures that wreak havoc on the fragile ecosystems of Arizona land, he's seen both the good and bad of Valley architecture.

But at Sereno Canyon, he sees something different: thoughtful planning that goes beyond adhering to one architectural style. He sees a real estate development that takes its cues from the pristine Arizona land, not from the past, and where quality is the highest aspiration.

It's for this reason that Sereno Canyon offers some of the most flexible design guidelines of any luxury community in North Scottsdale. "I don't think that there's just one way to provide good architecture," Wickersham says. "The design guidelines lay out things like quality of materials, but we didn't get too specific that it has to be a Spanish Colonial or a Southwestern Ranch."

At the same time, Wickersham made sure that each home would fit with the property's landscape - a rugged expanse of boulders, saguaros and gently sloping foothills. "It has to be appropriate to the Southwest. We're not going to allow someone to bring in a Cape Cod," he says. "Our process is more about honoring the goal of good quality, and of preserving the land and the community."

Be a part of the visionary design of this North Scottsdale community. Visit Sereno Canyon today to find out how - once you set foot on this Arizona land, you'll never want to leave.

For more information on Craig Wickersham's architecture, visit craigwickersham.com.

The Retreat will include a well-equipped workout facility, full size lap pool with negative edge, outdoor spa, fire-pit and indoor/outdoor seating

Tour Sereno Canyon by viewing the photo gallery.