Kirigami Winter Retreat Utah, Powder Mountain Ski Resort residence design, rural American real estate photos

Kirigami Winter Retreat in Utah, USA

February 27, 2026

Architects: Sparano + Mooney Architecture

Location: Powder Mountain Ski Resort, Utah, USA

Photos by Matt Winquist

Kirigami Winter Retreat, Utah mountain residence

Located within the Powder Mountain Ski Resort, this ski-in/ski-out mountain sanctuary by Sparano + Mooney Architecture was designed and built for clients whose appreciation of Japanese culture and design influenced the home’s overall concept.

Desiring a clean, modern aesthetic, the interior design of the home and its art were chosen with this aesthetic in mind, leading to an eclectic yet curated space. This home was built to accommodate visitors of all ages and life stages; the clients considered their current and future needs, as well as those of their parents, who may also need to reside in the home.

Occupants and visitors can travel from the garage into a corridor in which the elevator is situated, and from there up to the main level and out into the kitchen. The house therefore facilitates aging in place and multi-generational living.

Due to its remote location, the home is run completely off of propane, and heated by highly-efficient radiant heat throughout. The southern façades feature overhangs, and temperatures are controlled with operable windows at key locations to provide any necessary cooling, ensuring a sustainable design approach.

The multi-level layout includes a primary suite with a private deck and steam shower on the upper level, which is stepped up from the main level by 5 feet and can be completely separated from the rest of the home.

The dining room, with its multi-slide door system, opens onto the courtyard, while the main kitchen is completely open with no ceiling-based cabinetry, fixtures, or fittings to allow for an uninterrupted flow of energy and viewpoints. The scullery kitchen, with a small built-in bar, is located near the media room.

Throughout the interiors, hem fir is used as the primary finish, with cabinetry in rift white oak, countertops and accent counters in black granite, and flooring in polished concrete. The exception is the onsen-area walls and ceilings, which utilized cedar for the wood’s aroma and aesthetics, and stone tile for the floors.

The formidable expanse of stark terrain surrounding the home inspired the design team to explore a dichotomy of undulation versus permanence within this blank canvas. The home’s custom, bent-metal TEKKō™ steel exterior wraps around the structure in a mixture of solid and perforated panels.

The team selected TEKKō™ steel for the facade’s exterior cladding for its ability to bend and fold around the home’s upper level and throughout the courtyard, with standing seams that then turn into the corners. The highly corrosion-resistant steel-zinc composite is perfect for the elements. One section is perforated, with standing-seam panels, while some are opaque.

The sustainable design goals were centered around creating a form and approach that would exert minimal impact on the native landscape, while still providing opportunities for interaction with nature.

Project siting

The high-elevation mountain site is completely exposed and receives an average annual snowfall of 225 inches, requiring the home to be designed to withstand wind speeds of 110 mph and support a snow load of 228lbs/sf.

Sustainability

Building orientation and orientation of the high-performance glazing, as well as 2 inches of continuous exterior rock-wall insulation and 2 inches of spray foam for 4 inches total, and R-13 bat insulation over that, leads to a very robust system.

The roof assembly achieves an R-70 and the walls are insulated to R-38. The roof is white PVC with an SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) of 111. Two Tesla Power Walls are installed in case of power outage, and the home also features a separate electric car charging station. Marvin windows and multi-slide doors were specified.

Kitchen amenities

Kitchen amenities include Thermador and Wolf appliances, a recessed induction cooktop in the main kitchen, panel-ready and built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator, and gas cooktop in the scullery, with designated space in the scullery for smaller countertop appliances.

Sparano + Mooney Architecture

Sparano + Mooney Architecture is a renowned collective of architects and craftspeople dedicated to elevating the mythology, history, and landscape of the American West through design excellence. The firm draws inspiration from the rich and timeless modern traditions in architecture, and creates warm and inviting environments that respond to contemporary conditions.

Since 1997, the practice has employed a rigorous, research-based conceptual design approach, developing architecture that reflects an area of study unique to each client’s vision, while carefully considering the site and program, as well as the cultural and community contexts. The firm has cultivated a reputation for delivering landmark arts and culture facilities, community centers for civic agencies and non-profit institutions, as well as residential homes set in unique landscapes.

The practice has received more than 50 design and honor awards, including the 2017 AIA Western Mountain Region Architectural Firm of the Year and the 2013 AIA Utah Architectural Firm of the Year. Founders Anne Mooney, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and John Sparano, FAIA, have both been recognized with the prestigious AIA Western Mountain Region Silver Medal, the highest award given to an architect in this region of the United States.

The firm’s first monograph, Sparano + Mooney Architecture: A Way of Working (Hatje Cantz: Berlin), highlights the dialogue between concept and location found in their work, as well as their commitment to sustainable and innovative buildings that are embedded harmoniously into spectacular mountain landscapes.