Kirigami
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ARCHITECTURAL TEAM | Seth Striefel, Anne Mooney, John Sparano, Mark James
CONTRACTOR | Benchmark Modern
PHOTOGRAPHY | Matt Winquist
INTERIOR | Westhoven Design
STRUCTURAL | TBSE Inc.
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2024 | American Institute of Architects Utah Design Honor Award
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MATERIALS | TEKKo Steel, thermally modified hemfir, tnemec coatings, white oak, absolute black granite
SUSTAINABILITY | solar panels, passive ventilation, etc.
SITE FEATURES | steep slope, existing infrastructure, etc.
This modern mountain residence, located at 8,800’ in the Wasatch Range, was designed for multi-generational living and year-round connection to its alpine setting. Stepping down the slope of the site, the home balances private retreat with generous gathering space.
Durable TEKKō™ steel cladding and hem fir soffits carry indoors to wood ceilings, complemented by rift white oak cabinetry, polished concrete floors and black granite accents. The sustainable design goals for this home were centered around creating a form and approach that would exert minimal impact on the native landscape while still providing opportunities for interaction with nature. The window system was designed with operable openings at key locations to take advantage of natural site ventilation, thereby reducing the need for mechanical heating/cooling and increasing indoor air quality. The fully-adhered PVC membrane roof is super insulated, with polyiso rigid above the deck and blown-in insulation below the deck. The roof assembly achieves an R-70 and the walls are insulated to R-38. Strategically-placed minimal glazing with a minimum of .32 U-factor ensures a complete and high-performance exterior envelope. Two Tesla Powerwalls are installed in case the power goes out, and would provide power for about a day. In addition to the Powerwalls, the home features a separate electric car charging station.
The program for the home includes a primary suite with a private deck and steam shower on the upper level, which is stepped up from the main level by 5’ and can be completely separated from the rest of the home; there are a further two bedrooms and a separate bunk room with stacked built-in bunks on the lower level; a spa/onsen space and mudroom/ski room in blackened steel are located on the lower level; a media room with a low-throw projector on the main level with no windows, which is acoustically separated from the rest of the home and especially the primary suite; a dining room that has large windows opening onto the courtyard; a main kitchen that is completely open with no ceiling-based cabinetry, fixtures or fittings to allow for an uninterrupted flow of energy and viewpoints; and a scullery with a small built-in bar near the media room.
Engineered to withstand high winds and extreme snow loads, the home honors strict design guidelines while achieving a clean, modern aesthetic. Minimal landscape intervention, on-site stormwater management and native re-seeding ensure the design treads lightly on its mountain environment while providing a timeless, sustainable retreat.
