Casa Azzurra / Studio AdM

Casa Azzurra is more than a retreat in Joshua Tree, it's a place designed for connection, inspired by the effortless hospitality of an Italian summer and the vast tranquility of the desert. Created by architect Mirtilla Alliata di Montereale, an Italian designer raised in Hawaii, the home is a personal project that will serve as the foundation of her hospitality brand launching in 2026. Mirtilla, who holds a Master's in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), has a professional background that includes working with Frank Gehry and Kulapat Yantrasast. Inspiration for the home encapsulates her family summers in the Aeolian Islands, the innovative vision of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the natural beauty of Joshua Tree. She envisioned not just a house, but a world of its own—one designed for gathering, exploration, and escape.