Wabi-Sabi

RESIDENTIAL1
Written By SMA
 
Entrance elevation of Emigration Canyon residence with dark cedar facade and mountain background designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 
 

Wabi-sabi is an ancient, philosophical tenet of Japanese aesthetic culture that embraces the imperfect, incomplete and transient. It espouses simplicity and honesty in expression, those modest things in our world that convey beauty as they weather and age. Located in Emigration Canyon above Salt Lake City, Utah, this 4,000 square-foot home was designed for a young family and celebrates a unique elevated canyon view with a rare and direct connection to nature. The design was conceived as an expression of both static and dynamic elements, referencing the relationship among the mountain, vegetation and wildlife on the site.

 
Interior view of Wabi Sabi residence intersecting corridors with concrete floor and light wood framed windows designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Wabi Sabi modern kitchen with all wood cabinetry and dark grey barstools designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Living room with full height windows and mountain views designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 
Exterior view at dusk of cantilevered residence with glowing interior and vertical cedar boards and concrete facade designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 

As they move through the home, the occupant is continually presented with a framed view of the mountain vista, an experience that enhances the indoor/outdoor relationship between inhabitant and dwelling. The home is separated into two cantilevered volumes that float above the landscape, and are finished with a blackened stain. The north volume is oriented along an east-west axis, to address the tranquil mountain views to the north, and includes the home’s private, domestic functions. The southwest volume includes the more public, active gathering spaces and is oriented along the canyon axis toward dramatic views of the natural and urban landscapes.

The grading for the home has been integrated with the site topography to encourage the existing storm run-off to remain as unchanged as possible, and low-flow fixtures were used throughout the home. These passive strategies were analyzed and implemented in the home’s design to minimize resource usage and further embed the client and structure in the local climate.

The geometric nature of the residence was inspired by bold, minimal forms that could be kept as low-profile as possible and become integrated with the wild landscape.

 
Elevation of Wabi Sabi residence and patio in Emigration Canyon with cantelevered window and dark cedar facade designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 
Wabi-Sabi wood and plaster heuristic device being pushed into place designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Wabi-Sabi wood and plaster heuristic device being pulled into place designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 
Wabi-Sabi residence exterior with vertical dark cedar slats and native landscape designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
 

The exterior is clad with full-height, vertical cedar boards, which were sorted on-site. Construction waste was minimized through a pre-conceived modular, expressed in modest material selections. The overall height of the volumes was based on the standard length of FSC-certified Western Red Cedar Select, a strategy that required less cutting and waste of the material. In addition, the large-format tile finish was established in a stack bond pattern that extends the full width of the corridors and patio, therefore maximizing coverage. This considered approach to materials extends to the selection of interior elements, fixtures and furnishings.

Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, this home includes a high-performance exterior envelope. 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 vegetated roof is planted with local grasses, camouflaging the home in its context; and the site is augmented with native and drought-tolerant plants and trees.

 
Wabi-Sabi conceptual model, interlocking small wood blocks with revealed gold fastener designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Wabi-Sabi conceptual model, small wood blocks with wood joinery designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Wabi-Sabi conceptual model, interlocking small wood blocks with hidden gold fastener designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture
SMA

SPARANO + MOONEY ARCHITECTURE is a leading architectural and design firm with offices in Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles, California.  We are architects committed to offering sustainable, contemporary architecture to clients throughout the American West who care deeply about design.

 

https://www.sparanomooney.com
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