Located within the eclectic Pine Meadow Ranch subdivision, this project began with a feasibility assessment for a 2-acre parcel the client was considering for purchase. Atelier Jörg Rügemer was commissioned to evaluate the site’s buildability, which presented several challenges, including an average slope of 35 percent, limited road access, and the requirement for an on-site septic system.

A comprehensive feasibility study addressed these constraints and confirmed the site’s development potential, giving the client the confidence to proceed with the acquisition. The design brief called for a compact residence consisting of a 1,000-square-foot garage with an approximately 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom living unit above, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and sensitive site integration.

The parcel offers expansive views of the Uinta Mountains to the east and favorable southern and southeastern exposure for passive solar gain. However, the steep terrain made driveway access a primary design driver. Before permitting and construction, the project underwent a required Low-Impact Permit review and is now nearing finalization.

The building is carefully aligned with the site’s natural conditions to minimize environmental impact while preserving key view corridors and maximizing passive solar opportunities where feasible. The design responds holistically to the land, balancing programmatic needs with the client’s vision and the realities of the terrain.

Extensive massing studies led to an optimal solution in which the driveway follows the natural contour lines of the slope, allowing for a gradual ascent with minimal disturbance. The building is embedded into the hillside and oriented parallel to this alignment, creating a cohesive relationship between architecture and landscape.

Aligning the primary façade with the topography rather than true south avoided the extensive excavation that would have been required to rotate the structure. The additional embodied energy associated with such earthwork would likely outweigh any long-term operational gains, making the chosen strategy the most balanced and responsible solution. This approach slightly reduces passive solar heat gain. Nevertheless, the insulated and already air-tightened building with a 0.73 ACH50 performance rate literally heats itself on sunny winter days, even with nighttime temperatures in the single digits. 

Project Blackboard: 

Pre-Schematic Design Explorations: Summer 2022

Design: Fall 2022 - Spring 2024

Construction start: May 2024

Building size: 1,445 SF

Lot size: 2 acre

Designed to Passive-to-Active House Standard for 8,000' Elevation

Architecture and Energy Performance Simulation: Atelier Jörg Rügemer

Client: Chase Nuttall, Leah Bradley

Contractor: Millcreek Construction, Salt Lake City

Structural Engineering: Iridum AE, Murray, Utah 

Photo credits: Atelier Jörg Rügemer, Chase Nuttall, Leah Bradley