1395 E MICHIGAN AVE Salt Lake City, UT 84105

This stunning house has been recognized with an Honor Design Award from the American Institute of Architects WMR for its unique response to the site, sympathetic interpretation of the scale and texture of the neighborhood and impeccable detailing. Located on one of the rare-oversized lots in the highly coveted Yale Harvard neighborhood, this Douglas Park property backs onto a dry portion of Red Butte Creek that has no public access. Respecting the gulley, that represent vestiges of the original topography of Salt Lake Valley, the site is terraced towards the canopy of trees with a series of cascading patios, reflecting pool, fountain and widow's walk. The house while respectful of the neighborhood with its horizontal eaves, deeply recessed windows, brick and glass brick veneers provides a subtle transition through a sequence of layers from the formal public face at the street to an organic response at the gulley with 13 foot full height windows in the living and dining rooms that take-in the wonder of the changing seasonal colors and habitat. The house was designed for main floor living with master bedroom, living and dining area, laundry room and outdoor patio all on one level adjacent to a two-car garage. The lower level with its booklined study and two bedrooms is tucked under the cantilevered upper level so that the property seems to open-up in a series of intimate sculpture gardens as one moves from front to back, maximizing outdoor livable space. Facing a manicured lawn is a family or exercise room that has been fully wired as a central media center for the house. The house has a passive response to the south with eaves that are designed to protect against summer heat gain yet allow deep penetration of winter sun into the living area. The windows are located such that they draw cooled air from the gulley across living spaces then exhausted in high clearstory windows on the south. The roof over the garage has been prewired for solar panels. The first level has radiant floor heating that allows the thermal mass of the house to extend the effectiveness of the heating source. With windows that radiate around the living area, the house like a sundial celebrates the passage of each day with changing patterns of light and shadow. The organization of rooms seems innate as though you've lived here before and must be experience over time as its meaning is revealed through patterns of use. This area is in close proximity to Downtown, University of Utah, University Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Airport, Trax, and minutes to several World Class Ski Resorts. Also noted are the Private Schools, within walking distance, include The McGillis School, Rowland Hall St Mark's School, Judge Memorial High School and Westminster College. This truly is one of the most amazing homes built in the Salt Lake Valley.