Thanks to site-driven architecture and strikingly modern design, the experience of living in this hillside home is elevated by breathtaking views of the city below 

If ever there were a home design driven by its views, it’s the one Ezra Lee Design + Build (EZD+B) created for Bob and Char Roetzel in Salt Lake City. The boldly modern dwelling—clad in wood siding, stone tile and endless panes of glass—appears ready to take flight and soar above the city from its high, hillside setting. “The roof reaches toward the street and then subtly rises toward the panoramic view of the city,” explains EZD+B architect Doug Staker, AIA.

LEFT: The large scale pivot door by Lecate Artisan Doors opens into the entry, where the exterior’s stone-tiled wall and wood-clad ceiling flow seamlessly indoors.

RIGHT: Clad in bookmatched leathered quartzite, a dramatically scaled, two-sided fireplace separates the great room’s living and dining areas. In the corner, sliding glass doors pull back to open the room to a spacious deck and city views.

If ever there were a home design driven by its views, it’s the one Ezra Lee Design + Build (EZD+B) created for Bob and Char Roetzel in Salt Lake City. The boldly modern dwelling—clad in wood siding, stone tile and endless panes of glass—appears ready to take flight and soar above the city from its high, hillside setting. “The roof reaches toward the street and then subtly rises toward the panoramic view of the city,” explains EZD+B architect Doug Staker, AIA.

Creating a sense of architectural drama from the get-go, Staker fashioned the front of the home with a deep-set entry that features expansive windows and a massive pivot door crafted of steel and wood. “That door is 700 pounds of art, and I absolutely love it,” Char says. Staker fashioned an asymmetric approach clad in wood siding. “A dominant folded plane consisting of a wall and the roof frames the entry,” he explains. To the east, a spacious under-roof porch—open in front and back—perfectly captures a view of the Utah State Capitol and the city beyond. “I believe that timeless architecture comes from a wonderful marriage of materials, massing and roof lines, “ says Ezra Lee, principal of EZD+B. “This home is a perfect example of that.”  

Ezra Lee conceived the idea of squaring the front of the hillside house with the street, while slightly pivoting the interiors and back of the home to perfectly align them with views of State and Main Streets below. A covered deck frames a view of the capitol building. Lee explains, “We wanted to activate and connect the front of the home with this killer view, pulling you in the envelope of the home from the streetside, so we delicately pulled the roof to create an impactful street presence along with a grand sense of entry.” 

ABOVE: A wood-clad ceiling and gray-stained maple floors unify the great room’s living area with the adjoining kitchen. Dark cabinetry by Marwood Design visually links to the fireplace’s near-black quartzite to deepen the connection from room to room. 

A lofty entry welcomes visitors into the home, while simultaneously creating the subtle impression that they may still be outside. The exterior’s high, wood-clad ceiling flows seamlessly into the entry as does an outdoor, stone-tiled wall. Only panes of glass separate inside and out. “We wanted there to be continuity throughout the home with both interior and exterior materials,” Staker says.

The wood ceiling continues into an expansive great room composed of the living, dining and kitchen areas. It is the heart of the home with south walls of glass flooding it with views and natural light. A colossal fireplace faced in bookmatched leather quartzite anchors the open space, and its two-sided design serves both the living and dining spaces located on opposite sides. Staker explains, “It creates a visual connection between these two spaces while adding warmth and ambiance to both.”  

LEFT: A smoked-glass orb chandelier, a wood ceiling and the continuation of the maple flooring from the main level distinguish an open staircase that connects the home’s two levels. Its large windows overlook the terraced landscape and a koi pond.

RIGHT: Glass orb pendants hang above the kitchen’s 18-foot long, quartzite-topped island. A plaster range surround and its flanking upper cabinets extend to the 14-foot-high ceiling to accentuate the room’s grand volume. A nearby butler’s pantry connects to the mudroom and laundry room to ease everyday tasks.

And because the design is all about the views, Staker cleverly integrated sliding glass doors in the corner that all but disappear as they are pulled back to open the great room to a broad outdoor deck. “We love the cantilevered feeling of this corner and how it expands the footprint of the home when entertaining inside and out,” the architect says. And, as Bob explains, the open corner frames unobstructed views of the skyline and Capitol.

On the opposite side of the great room, a show-stopping kitchen is the ultimate gathering space. Its 18-foot island boasts a leathered quartzite countertop, two-toned double waterfall edge and loads of seating and storage space. Behind it, an inset range wall is clad with metal mosaics that shimmer above a custom steel countertop. “We wanted to keep the range wall streamlined with materials that let the backsplash really pop,” says EZD+B interior designer Mallory Bouchard. 

TOP LEFT: Radiant heated flooring, a luxuriously equipped steam shower and a private hot tub deck located off the primary bathroom foster the room’s spa-like style. A custom suspended mirror serves back-to-back vanities.

TOP RIGHT: Visible through the expansive staircase window, a built-in planter and cascading water feature entice guests to travel into the terraced landscape and living areas behind the home. The property provides direct access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail—a big perk for Char who is an avid hiker.

BOTTOM: In the primary bedroom, the bed faces city views and is backed by an inlaid stacked-wood treatment that extends onto the ceiling to create a canopy-like feature. Custom, recessed-steel baseboards accentuate the room’s gray-stained maple floor. 

LEFT: Streaming arcs of water shoot from the deck of the pool that appears to float above the city below. 

RIGHT: The covered breakfast porch opens to the front and back of the property and offers a shaded lounge area that overlooks the city. 

Every material featured in the great room—from its wood ceiling and gray-stained maple floors to the dark cabinetry and natural stones—was deliberately chosen to promote the contrasting tones, modern style and nature-inspired aesthetic that drives the overall experience of the home, room to room. “We wanted the house to be clean-lined but not cold,” Char says. In the primary suite, for example, an inset plane of stacked, richly stained wood details the headboard wall and continues on the ceiling to form a uniquely modern canopy. “It brings warmth and personality to the space,” Bouchard says. The adjoining bathroom boasts a back-to-back vanity with a floating mirror and a glass-walled steam shower that allow views to flood the light-filled space. A private hot tub deck extends the suite’s spa-like style and enjoyment. “It’s so convenient having the hot tub located off the bathroom,” Char says. 

An open staircase connects the home’s main and lower levels, while highlighting the descent—indoors and out—with large windows that overlook the terraced landscape and a koi pond fed by water that spills from a stacked water feature above. Across the back of the house, broad decks, open patios and a shimmering swimming pool expand the home’s livability and take full advantage of its hillside setting. “The floors and landscape create a series of cascading terraces as the home opens toward the views,” Staker says. The result is a home that celebrates its spectacular setting, while luxuriating in compelling architecture and inviting, modern spaces from all angles.  

LEFT: As seen from an upper deck, glass doors slide back to open a corner of the great room to the living areas outdoors.

RIGHT: On the front of the home, an architecturally dramatic entry is framed by garages and a covered porch referred to as Bob’s breakfast deck. Char explains, “It’s where he takes his morning coffee and conference calls.” Landscaping by Jeff Miller Landscapes.