- Project: Wabi-Sabi Residence
- Architect: Sparano + Mooney Architecture
- Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Year: 2022
- Area: 372 m2
- Photography: Matt Winquist, Lucy Call
Perched high above Salt Lake City in Emigration Canyon, the Wabi-Sabi Residence is a poetic response to its rugged mountain site. Designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture, the home embodies the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi—embracing imperfection, simplicity, and transience—while delivering an advanced sustainable performance.
Architecture Rooted in Landscape
The residence is organized into two cantilevered volumes that hover above the canyon. The north volume follows an east-west axis, dedicated to private functions such as bedrooms and intimate retreats, while the southwest volume unfolds into communal spaces, oriented to capture sweeping views of both the mountains and the city below. This duality reinforces the balance between seclusion and openness, quiet and vibrancy.
Materials and Craft
Clad in vertical cedar boards stained a deep black, the home merges with the natural palette of its surroundings. The use of FSC-certified Western Red Cedar was carefully planned to minimize cutting waste, with dimensions calibrated to standard lengths. Inside, warm oak floors, smooth stone surfaces, and textured concrete walls establish a tactile, harmonious environment. Large tile flooring laid in a stack-bond pattern visually extends from interiors to patios, blurring thresholds between inside and out.
Sustainability and Performance
Targeting LEED Gold certification, the residence incorporates advanced sustainable strategies. Operable windows are strategically placed to harness cross-ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. A vegetated roof planted with native grasses camouflages the house into its environment, improves insulation, and supports local biodiversity. Native and drought-tolerant landscaping further reduces water use while enhancing resilience to wildfire risks common in the canyon.
The structure’s double-framed walls, thermal breaks, and extensive roof insulation ensure high energy efficiency, while radiant floor heating creates a consistently comfortable interior climate. Together, these measures not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance the family’s quality of life.
A Philosophy Made Tangible
The Wabi-Sabi Residence is more than a house; it is a meditation on impermanence and authenticity. As cedar cladding ages gracefully and natural materials weather with time, the home becomes an evolving part of its landscape. This design philosophy rejects ornamentation in favor of honesty, celebrating modest elements that gain beauty as they endure.
Benchmark for Mountain Modern Living
With its balance of restraint and innovation, the Wabi-Sabi Residence sets a benchmark for mountain modern homes in the American West. By harmonizing architectural form with the terrain, emphasizing material integrity, and embedding sustainability into every detail, Sparano + Mooney Architecture has created a residence that is both timeless and deeply contextual.
