When driving by the historic Ball-Paylore House, you likely wouldnβt take a second glance at its unassuming view from the street.
But as the front door to the midtown Tucson home whips open, more than a dozen stunning floor-to-ceiling windows catch your eyes, instantly leading you from the front to the back patio, which is shaped as a semi-circle. Meanwhile, the house itself is laid out in a hexagon, with matte coral and blue walls, a three-sided fire place and furniture from the 1950s.
The Ball-Paylore house in midtown Tucson is laid out in a hexagon, with matte coral and blue walls, a three-sided fire place and furniture from the 1950s.
The 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom house was built in the 1950s for Phyllis Ball and Patricia Paylore, who commissioned local architect Arthur T. Brown for the project.
The unique design garnered praise, with Brown being lauded by media across the country.
βI think there are a number of reasons why this property is exceptionally significant,β says Demion Clinco, executive director of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. βThe more it was published, the more notoriety and influence it had throughout the United States.β
βYou come here and you get this sense of innovation,β he says.
βThis still feels innovative, even today. Itβs 70 years old and yet it still feels relevant today. I think thatβs a hallmark of exceptional design β that itβs stood the test of time.β
The Ball-Paylore House, near Tucson Boulevard and Grant Road, was recently acquired by the foundation, fearing that the home could be put on the market and potentially destroyed.
βWe were concerned about what the future would be,β Clinco says.
βJEWEL BOX OF A HOUSEβ
Ball was a longtime University of Arizona librarian and Paylore was assistant director of the UAβs Office of Arid Lands Studies, according to Arizona Daily Star archives.
βThey hired Arthur T. Brown to design a house that was progressive and visionary and really conceived for this climate,β Clinco says, calling the home a βjewel box of a house.β
Brown is said to have had a footprint in more than 300 projects around Southern Arizona, including unique designs such as the Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson and a Tubac home shaped as an airplane, archives say.
Whatβs especially different about the house is its early passive solar design, Clinco says.
The back of the home, which is actually a wall of windows, is oriented south, which helps keep harsh sunlight out on Tucsonβs hottest days. The circular shape of the roof also helps deflects sunlight.
And two large shade screens on wheels sit on the patio. The mobility allows them to move back and forth, providing flexible shade options when folks are enjoying the yard. On colder days, the mobile shade can do the opposite β allowing sunlight to beam in. Concrete floors and heat-absorbent wall colors also help keep the heat in.
βThe environmental responsiveness really drove the design,β Clinco says.
Its solar design, in combination with the hexagonal shape, landed Brown heaps of national media attention.
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation has restored damaged woodwork, reupholstered fabric and worked with a painter to determine the original wall colors at the Ball-Paylore house.
A 1985 Tucson Citizen story says that Brown visited the Ball-Paylore house once a year, asking if the women wanted anything changed.
βEvery year we answer, βHeavens, no!ββ Paylore is quoted in the article.
After Ball and Paylore died, the house was left to Phyllis Koffler and her husband Henry Koffler some time in the β90s. The couple used the Ball-Paylore House as a guesthouse and to host scholars, Clinco says.
Henry Koffler, who was UA president from 1982 to 1991, died in 2018. Phyllis Koffler died last year.
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundationβs board worked with the Kofflersβ estate to purchase the property last fall.
βWould this house have survived? Iβm not 100% sure. I think there was a major possibility that this house wouldβve gone through major modification,β Clinco says, though he adds that itβs possible that βsomebody who cares about mid-century architecture couldβve purchased it.β
A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE
In addition to the large collection of books on the homeβs massive book shelf that were all originally owned by Ball and Paylore, the house has all the original furniture β which was selected specifically for the home in the β50s.
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation is working with the city of Tucson, hoping to make the Ball-Paylore House a local historic landmark to protect it in the future.
However, some items were damaged or changed through the years β including the walls, which were painted white possibly after Ball and Paylore died.
The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation has since restored damaged woodwork, reupholstered fabric and worked with a painter to determine the original wall colors. A new HVAC system has also been installed, in addition to upgrades to electrical work.
The foundation is working with the city of Tucson, hoping to make the home a local historic landmark to protect it in the future.
Currently, the house is available for short-term stays through Airbnb. The foundation also plans to offer monthly tours for the community.
βIt makes it accessible. Thatβs really important to the foundation,β Clinco says. βHaving a property like this, we have a responsibility to people who are interested in design, and the community, to experience this place.β
To make a reservation on Airbnb or to donate to the Ball-Paylore House project, visit preservetucson.org.
The Ball-Paylore house is available for short-term stays through Airbnb. The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation also plans to offer monthly tours for the community. The house has all of its original β50s furniture.
This mid-century home was built in the 1950s for Phyllis Ball and Patricia Paylore, who commissioned local architect Arthur T. Brown for the project. The home will be open to the community for tours and short-term stays.
Gallery: 1961 photos of the Ball-Paylore House
1961 photos: This round house was home to 2 UA librarians
Round house is home to these librarians
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The revolving porch roof can be adjusted to provide shade at any time of the day. The living room and bedrooms all open directly on the patio.
Round house is home to these librarians
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University of Arizona librarians and friends Patricia Paylor and Phyllis Ball lived in what was called a round house. It was actually a hexagonal house designed by Arthur T. Brown. Here, the three-sided fireplace is the heart of the house.
Round house is home to these librarians
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Neatly organized books and magazines attest to the owners' interest in reading. Records and photograph are located in the closed cabinet. Around the bend in the living room is a dining table which opens to seat 12.
Round house is home to these librarians
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Hemlock crossbeams radiate from the living room fireplace, emphasizing the house's circular design. Green bamboo curtains may be rolled down or the unbleached muslin draperies may be closed to filter sunlight from the patio.
Round house is home to these librarians
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A flying saucer look is emphasized in this night view from the patio. Every room in the house is visible: (from left) Miss Paylor's bedroom, the living room, hall, kitchen and Miss Ball's room.
Round house is home to these librarians
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Miss Ball chose charcoal for the walls of her room and white draperies with a bright red Berta Wright design for a color accent. She keep her typewriter on a typing table inside the corner cabinet.
Round house is home to these librarians
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The revolving porch roof can be adjusted to provide shade at any time of the day. A free form fence of redwood grapestake separates the lord from the neighboring yards. The living room and bedrooms all open directly on the patio.
Round house is home to these librarians
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Green walls and colorful leaf-patterned draperies give warmth to Miss Paylor's bedroom. Small, high windows (one visible upper right) face on street, with the glass door opens to the patio. Under the desk is a tiny door for the cats.
Round house is home to these librarians
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Kitchen cupboards, all within easy reach, offer ample storage space. The stainless steel counter top between the oven and stove makes a convenient resting place for hot pans.
