in the summer of 1847, a group of pioneers led by john holladay entered the salt lake valley. they discovered a spring-fed stream, now known as spring creek, and settled the area, making holladay the first village established away from salt lake city and the oldest continuously inhabited city in utah. settlers enjoyed favorable conditions for agriculture, orchards, and business, allowing for continued growth and development. located in the central part of the salt lake valley, holladay is known today for its beautiful homes and large, wooded lots. the holladay city council works towards preserving its open spaces by overseeing and carefully managing commercial development. residents are proposing a more pedestrian-friendly downtown as well as creating biking and walking trails within the community. holladay is also host to many popular events and festivals organized by the city′s arts council. most notably, the blue moon festival held every summer features artists and musicians from the community. other holladay attractions include the mt. olympus trailhead, old mill golf course, big cottonwood regional park, and the lions recreation center. forbes magazine has ranked utah the no. 1 state for business four out of the last five years. salt lake county is also the home of the nba’s utah jazz, real salt lake of the mls, university of utah pac-12 athletics, and was the host of the 2002 winter olympic games.
the approach to this home remains one of my favorites, characterized by massive aggregate facades. while this material is a common mid-century detail in commercial buildings, this home utilizes large aggregate wall forms that were cast flat and tilted into place. stephen macdonald favored this tilt-up construction for its efficiency and affordability, as well as its alignment with "soft modern" or organic modern design. these walls transition seamlessly from the interior to the outdoors, blurring the lines between the two environments, while post-and-beam construction ties the upper portion together with beautiful wood.
the interior features a water feature that runs through the home like a stream, bisecting the main room. large boulders, polished by years of use as stepping stones, enhance the organic aesthetic. floor-to-ceiling glass walls at the rear open to a long fountain, ensuring the sound of water echoes throughout the property.
the home retains its original mid-century architectural details, including beautifully integrated pegboard and pristine light wood veneer. to complement these features, anne-marie barton has added subtle updates, including the art of kintsugi adopted by my seller. this japanese influence reflects stephen macdonald’s own design history, such as his millcreek office, which featured shoji screens. this home truly represents a perfect balance of architectural purity and thoughtful modern touches.
