Drawn into the Landscape, a Team Finds Opportunity in Challenging Terrain
Floor-to-ceiling glass and a vertical sequence of spaces transform a steep site into an immersive architectural journey.
Photo: Courtesy of Marvin
Set within Deer Valley’s coveted Bald Eagle enclave, this project began with a constraint many would have dismissed: a near-vertical site with more than 40 feet of elevation change. However, where others saw limitation, renowned architect Michael Upwall saw opportunity—not to conquer the land, but to work with it. In that shift, the steep terrain evolved from a problem to solve into the design’s driving force.
Photo: Courtesy of Marvin
The home begins with a deliberate journey upward, echoing the mountain’s slope.The entry, encased in floor-to-ceiling Marvin windows, opens to a staircase set within a two-story glass tower flooded with light and a connection to the landscape. “In a vertical home, movement is usually functional,” says Upwall. “Here, the climb becomes an immersive experience—an intuitive, guided ascent to the main level.”
Photo: Courtesy of Marvin
The expansive living space is framed by massive Marvin glass walls opening to sweeping mountain vistas. Structure and experience align in precise moments, from the fireplace anchoring the volume to the uninterrupted openness that draws the eye outward.
Photo: Courtesy of Marvin
On the upper levels, engaging the view goes beyond simply framing it. Dramatic leaning Marvin windows shift the experience, their angled planes creating the sensation of being pulled into the landscape rather than just observing it—a nuanced manipulation of geometry that deepens the connection. “Suddenly you’re part of the view, says Upwall. “It’s so powerful, taking a vertical plane and angling it toward the view, how it transforms the experience.”
Photo: Courtesy of Marvin
From top to bottom, the house reads as a continuous journey linking street to ski run, bridging more than 60 feet in elevation including the below-grade basketball court. Its success is rooted in collaboration, with builder Jeff Hill and his team meeting every technical challenge with finesse, and engaged clients shaping an iterative, idea-driven process.
In the end, the site’s greatest challenge becomes its defining strength. The home is shaped by the land and a sequence of experiences that demonstrate how architecture, at its best, interprets rather than resists.
PROJECT DETAILS
- ARCHITECT: Michael Upwall, Upwall Design
- BUILDER: Jeff and Gary Hill, Midway Construction Company
- PHOTOGRAPHER: Douglas Burke
- WINDOWS AND DOORS: Marvin Modern Direct Glaze, Casement and Awning windows, Modern Multi-Slide and Swinging doors
Since 1912, Marvin has been a family-owned and -led company, with a legacy of innovation and commitment to the highest quality. We understand the unique opportunity windows and doors have to improve our spaces and how we feel in them. That’s why we never stop pushing what’s possible and inventing new solutions to channel fresh air, enhance light quality, and connect with the world around us.
Sponsored content provided by Marvin. As seen in ML’s July/August 2026 issue
