JOY, Rick 1958-

PERSONAL:

Born 1958, in ME. Education: Graduated from University of Arizona.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Rick Joy Architects, 400 South Rubio Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Architect. Rick Joy Architects, Tucson, AZ, 1993—. Guest lecturer at various universities, including Harvard University and the University of Arizona.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Award in Architecture, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2002.

WRITINGS:

Rick Joy: Desert Works, Princeton Architectural Press (New York, NY), 2002.

SIDELIGHTS:

After working as a musician and carpenter for twelve years in Maine, Rick Joy relocated to Arizona, where he earned a degree in architecture. Since 1993, he has worked through his own architectural firm and earned a reputation for spare design, with a light touch and a deep appreciation for the desert. His buildings, often using sustainable products like rammed earth, incorporate natural settings and environmental sensitivity. Elements such as gravel courtyards and sculpture further tie his homes and office buildings into their surroundings. In addition, Joy looks to indigenous and Hispanic influences for inspiration in situating his works. According to Architecture contributor Max Underwood, "Joy possesses a rare understanding of the nature, capacity, and potential of each material he employs."

Rick Joy: Desert Works is a photographic record of nine of Joy's constructions in the Sonoran Desert, six houses and three office studios. The photos reflect Joy's use of local color and texture to suggest human occupation without overwhelming the surrounding landscape. Simplicity and restraint mark all of his buildings. "This book succeeds because it gives just enough room to the necessary text … thus creating a book as lean as Joy's designs," noted Library Journal reviewer David Bryant.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Architectural Review, July, 2001, Catherine Slessor, "Touching Nature," p. 46.

Architecture, January, 2000, Max Underwood, "Rick Joy: Architect," p. 78.

Library Journal, September 15, 2002, David Bryant, review of Rick Joy: Desert Works, p. 58.*