Brittlebush was developed as a design-build experience for Simón De Agüero, graduate student, designer, and project manager. The design is an experimental desert dwelling for winter residents at Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Simón envisioned the design to be an open-air living space with protective roof and walls for the sleeping area. He designed a steel structure that frames three-inch rammed-earth walls surrounding a patio, fireplace, and bed. The masts and anchors on the structure can adaptively accommodate a 150 square-foot roof membrane of either shade-cloth or vinyl. The bed platform is situated above a fireplace for passive winter heating. This design concept includes an indoor-outdoor terrace for drinks with friends, or a quiet retreat to sit down and read a book. The social patio has three chairs and a meditative zen garden, all designed to integrate with the larger whole. Approximately 90% of the steel in the project was salvaged from the school scrap yard; 100% of the earth for the walls was from the school property; 100% of the wood used for the formwork was salvaged from onsite renovation waste.