Modern Architecture Designed Around You
Rooted in the Desert Terrain. We craft progressive modern architecture that celebrates the dramatic light, rugged geology, and enduring majesty of the American Southwest.
Architecture Shaped by People and Place
Spry Architecture is a Phoenix-based architecture firm specializing in modern custom homes throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Carefree, Cave Creek, and communities across Arizona.
Led by architect Eric Spry, AIA, the firm begins each project without a predetermined design solution. Design starts by listening—understanding how a client lives, what they value, and what they want their home to become.
The site becomes the other half of that conversation. Views, topography, native desert, sunlight, shade, privacy, and the relationship between indoors and outdoors all shape the architecture that follows. The result is a modern home that belongs equally to the people who live there and the place it occupies.
The Architectural Design Journey
Designing a custom home is a collaborative process involving the client, architect, engineers, interior designers, and builder. Spry Architecture guides that process from the earliest ideas through construction, bringing together the creative and technical decisions necessary to transform a concept into a completed home.
Discovery & Site Analysis
We understand the client then the land. The process begins with conversations about how you live, what you need, and what you imagine for your home. We study the property alongside those conversations, evaluating views, terrain, solar exposure, privacy, access, and applicable development requirements. These early discoveries establish the direction of the design, connecting the possibilities of the site with the priorities of the client.
Schematic Design
Initial plans and three-dimensional studies begin to explore how the home might take shape. We consider the arrangement of rooms, the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, the form and scale of the building, and how the architecture responds to the site. Through drawings and visualizations, clients begin to experience the design before it is built. Ideas are tested, discussed, and refined until a clear architectural direction emerges.
Design Development
With the overall design established, attention turns to the details that give the home its character. Materials, glazing, shading, lighting, structural systems, and interior relationships are developed in greater depth. We collaborate with engineers, interior designers, and other consultants to coordinate the home's architectural and technical requirements. This is where the initial concept becomes a more complete expression of the home, with each decision considered in relation to the larger design.
Construction Documents & Permitting
Detailed architectural drawings communicate the design to the builder and provide the information needed for permitting and construction. We coordinate the work of engineering consultants, address applicable building requirements, and prepare documents for review by the appropriate municipality and, where required, community design review authorities. The goal is to carry the design intent through the technical process with clarity and consistency.
Construction
Construction is where years of ideas, planning, and design become a physical home. During construction, Spry Architecture works with the builder and project team to clarify design details, review relevant submittals, respond to field conditions, and help maintain the architectural intent. The relationship between architect, client, and builder remains important through this final stage, as the decisions made on paper take form in materials, spaces, and light.
Five Considerations. One Architecture.
Client
A home begins with understanding how its owners live. Daily routines, personal interests, the need for privacy, and the way people gather all influence how spaces are arranged and connected.
Site
Every property offers a distinct set of possibilities. Topography, existing vegetation, neighboring homes, and distant views influence the positioning, orientation, and form of the architecture.
Climate
In Arizona, sunlight and shade are architectural materials. Roof overhangs, glazing, building orientation, and sheltered outdoor spaces are carefully considered to bring natural light into the home while moderating the desert climate.
Material
Stone, steel, concrete, glass, and wood contribute texture, warmth, and permanence. Materials are selected for how they look, how they perform, and how they relate to one another and the surrounding landscape.
Experience
The success of a home is found in how it feels to live there. The movement between rooms, the changing light throughout the day, the connection to outdoor spaces, and the balance between openness and intimacy bring the architecture to life.
Honors & Publications
Inspired Modern Living
Intermedia Book ↗
2023Phoenix Home and Garden “Chaten Home”
Phoenix Home & Garden ↗
2022Dream Homes
InterMedia Book ↗
2024Best Residential Architects in Arizona
GC Magazine ↗
2026Best of Houzz Design and Service (17-Time Winner)
Houzz ↗
2020Best Residential Firm - Arizona
Build Review Magazine ↗
2016Phoenix Home and Garden "Out of the Ashes"
Phoenix Home & Garden ↗
2015The 15 Best Architects in Phoenix
Build District ↗
Client Reflections
“When we found a piece of property and were introduced to Eric Spry, we had no idea how fortunate we were. Not only did we find someone who could design our dream home, but also someone that could visualize and deliver absolutely stunning views of the natural surroundings of the Sonoran desert. It is obvious that Eric is invested in his clients from beginning to end and is a joy to work with. He has a passion for his profession and truly loves the artistry of architecture.”
“As I described to him some of the features that I visualized seeing in our home he actually listened and took notes. He would add in his creative ideas to make my vision come to life !!! Not only is Eric imaginative , full of great ideas and a problem solver, he was also very easy to work with.”
Engage With Our Design Studio
Whether planning a contemporary hillside estate or custom desert residence, we welcome thoughtful architectural dialogue.
Mastery Across the Arizona Valley
Each municipality across greater Phoenix enforces unique development standards, design review boards, and environmental overlays. Our 20+ years of local practice ensures seamless permit approvals and architectural compliance across:
- Carefree
- Cave Creek
- Scottsdale
- Phoenix
- Paradise Valley
- Peoria
- Maricopa County
- Valley-Wide
Discuss Your Custom Home Vision
Whether you have secured a hillside parcel or are exploring potential sites, schedule a confidential design consultation with Eric Spry, AIA.