Behind This Mountain Home By Upwall Design Architects

Finding the right design partner isn’t always easy, but when the relationship works, visions come to life. That’s how it is with Michael Upwall, founder and architect at Upwall Design Architects, and Gary Hill, co-owner and master builder of Midway Construction Company. The Utah-based duo has worked together on more than 65 high-end residential projects.

In the latest Once Upon a Project podcast, hosted on the SURROUND Podcast Network, Upwall and Hill speak with host AJ Paron, EVP and Design Futurist at SANDOW Design Group, about their most recent work: Pinnacle Sky House.

This episode was created in partnership with Marvin Modern Collection, which helps visionaries achieve authentic modern architecture, all with expansive views and strong thermal performance.

Dynamic Duo: Upwall Design Architects + Midway Construction Company

In Park City, Utah, Pinnacle Sky House is a residence encased in glass, rooted in the landscape, and built to withstand the wild beauty of the area’s environment. The home’s view is a downhill slope that leads to a valley with a golf course and, beyond that, the ski mountains that Park City is known for.

“That’s what [the homeowners] loved and wanted to have wrapped around them,” Upwall explains. Starting from scratch, he and Hill walked this site, literally kicking the dirt and taking in what drew the homeowners to this land.

A Partnership Driven by Respect and Admiration of Craft

When they work on a project together, Upwall says Hill is unlike many other contractors, who lead with “no.” Hill begins with a “yes”—even if he has to find a way to get to the yes.

“That positive attitude is very design-friendly,” Upwall says. “It’s a very complex experience to be able to take an idea and make it a reality. The less resistance you get along the way, the more fluid and the more potential can actually find its way into reality.”

On the other hand, Hill appreciates Upwall’s artistic vision: how he can visualize a design and put it to life on paper in hardly no time (and, yes, Upwall still sketches by hand).

Implementing a Signature Style Though the Mountain Home

Upwall Design Architects is known for its signature “Mountain Modern Design,” what Upwall says isn’t so much a style as it is a philosophy. When he first started working in the mountains, people wanted the log cabin look, with big boulders and heavy timber. However, through his residential work in Utah, he’s evolved those requests into a more timeless, modern look that incorporates the beautiful surroundings—and that’s what they did with Pinnacle Sky House.

The beauty of the location also presented challenges, such as access and weather. Hill explains how they were hyperaware of the weather and implemented tarps and heated blankets to avoid delayed work. After large snowfalls, they could use a crane to move the tarps and get right back to work. “We’ve just had to evolve,” Hill says.

Building a Modern Home With a Heart

Pinnacle Sky House isn’t a home that Upwall or Hill will forget anytime soon. The project—both the work and the relationship with the homeowners—has left a mark.

Of the homeowners, Upwall says, “They were very trustworthy of our expertise. I think the kindness of the client shows itself in the beauty of the architecture and the final product.” He adds that it’s a home that will stand out to him “emotionally.”

“For me, the legacy is the relationship,” Hill adds. “The home is beautiful … but I would be able to consider them friends … and that, for me, is one of the most enjoyable experiences.”

For the entire conversation, listen to the full episode—sponsored by Marvin Modern Collection—and explore all Once Upon a Project episodes on SURROUND Podcast Network.