A hilltop home in the Promontory development of Park City reminded me of how Prairie style architecture roots to the land. By combining modern steel and glass with mountain wood and stone, the design resonates current tastes but becomes earthbound with the horizontal elements (used in Prairie style architecture) of the flat roof, clerestories, and cantilevered window overhangs, as well as the rectilinear forms of the pool and outdoor living.  The forms and variations in roof heights give a separate identity to the home’s elements to visually suggest an assemblage of smaller homes.
This view from the drive winding up to the entry is much more revealing of the hilltop location and the verticality of the home, which is visually offset by the many horizontal design elements. Upwall Design completed the architectural design and the interior design of the home, and Midway Construction was contractor.
A massive pivot door opens to the transparent entry that provides for views through the home to Park City in the distance and to the open living area, as well as to the family recreation space in the level below.
By using a glass railing around the stairway and its cascading light sculpture, it invites those entering to view the main living space and then draws them in. The main living area is broken up into spaces. The closest area has seating around the fireplace and a higher ceiling.
The glass in the southwest wall folds away so that there is no separation between the interior and the outdoor living space. Area rugs define the second conversation area and the dining area. The lines of the dining chairs are so strong, in whatever photo I made with them, they seem to draw the eye.
I am always intrigued with the art of creating an open floor plan. Here the variations in the ceilings define the areas: kitchen, conversation, living, and entry. The hallway leads to an entrance to guest suites.
Views encompass the kitchen, including views to the drive and the entry. The space is carefully considered so the solid walls offer space for the range and hood, appliances, and convenient access to glassware and storage. To compensate for any storage lost to views, there is a butler’s pantry with a sink as well as a large pantry behind the wall with the range.
The master suite creatively repeats the square forms and horizontal lines seen elsewhere. In many of the bedrooms, Upwall Design created recesses for custom padded headboards. This master is located privately at the end of the home nearest the dining room and there is a short wing for an office and the bedroom suite with a private reading area on the opposite side of the fireplace. Similarly, the master enjoys a semi-private outdoor terrace connected by glass doors.
The outdoor living area includes pool and spa, lounging with fire pit, and an outdoor kitchen and dining area with its own fireplace. This early evening view shows the variations in the rooflines that I mentioned earlier to makes each area of the home appear almost as a small home in a closely clustered village.
This home is beautiful in the daylight with sunlight from the clerestory creating moving light and shadows. However, in the evening, it becomes glorious. The connections to the outdoors flow, the firelight from the fire pit reflects inside, and the drama of the sky presents in every room. Photographically, it calls for evening shots.
