A Los Angeles family of four enlisted BERG Design Architects to help select a location for their mountain home in Talisker Club’s Tuhaye near Park City. Founder and principal architect Cobus van den Berg, along with the family, identified an optimal site for their residence that provided expansive south-facing views of the Jordanelle Reservoir, good sun orientation and integration with the natural landscape. 

“I envisioned designing and developing a home that appears to grow from the earth as an extension of nature,” van den Berg says. Spending time at the site is a critical part of his creative process. “I believe it is possible to pick up clues from the land,” he explains. “In Lone Peak, ancient bedrock deposits and the natural fractures in the tectonic plates offered a vision of a home that would naturally and seamlessly integrate into its surroundings.” The design consists of four rectangular pods arranged to respond to the natural contours, views and the path of the sun. 

In collaboration with Go West Development, BERG Design Architects took on the challenge of the geology and the constraints of building into a slope. “The result is a residence that meaningfully addresses the owners’ unique lifestyle fingerprint,” he says. 

Photographed by Douglas Burke Photography, the 7,500-square-foot dwelling is artfully planned for both aesthetics and flow. “The design incorporates a main living and gathering space, the primary bedroom suite pod, a pod for the guest bedroom suite, and a three-car garage and storage pod,” van den Berg explains. “With the garage serving as an embedded architectural anchor, the slope falls away and the home takes flight with elevation working to maximize the stunning views.” 

The open kitchen, dining room and main living area feature simple, clean lines and are situated in the large rectangular section in the middle. Multi-slide glass doors open from this level’s living and sleeping areas to three covered floating terrace spaces. Opening like a Japanese paper fan, the terraces address the sweeping views and enhance indoor-outdoor living. 

Glass breezeways on the main level connect the primary suite in the west pod and the guest sleeping quarters in the opposite pod. This arrangement capitalizes on the human paradox of need for connectedness and solitude. Walls are strategically kept to a minimum, and windows frame the natural landscape from every angle.

The home’s interior features a graceful, curved staircase, custom designed by van den Berg. Handcrafted from rich walnut and black oil-rubbed metal, it connects to the lower level and serves as the nucleus of the home. Perfect for entertaining, the home’s lower level has a stone fireplace, golf/sports simulator, kitchenette and large table for casual meals and games. This level spills onto a lower patio with a hot tub and an adjacent fire pit circle that are ideal for conversations and star gazing. 

Collaboration with interior design firm, Beck & Engle, the neutral palette blends the warmth of gray, taupe and pops of brick red. Lighting was meticulously curated to make a statement without overwhelming the views. Circular fixtures complement the home’s interior by softening rectangular lines.   

The kitchen is the heart of this home. Designed for gathering, it provides a comfortable flow connecting the other main living spaces. With ample room for seating and entertaining, the space also opens for al fresco dining on the terrace. 

The five bedrooms are spread across both floors and provide refuge with layered linens, plush area rugs and softly upholstered furnishings. Each uniquely appointed bedroom has special touches such as inviting fireplaces and access to secluded deck space. Five and a half bathrooms create Zen-like retreats. 

The family dog doesn’t take a back seat when it comes to design considerations. Easy indoor and outdoor access and a safe dog run provide ideal places for sunbathing and napping.

This luxurious Park City haven offers a break from the family’s busy Los Angeles lifestyle. Not only is it a place to relax and recharge, but it’s also a visual masterpiece that is true to the surroundings.

Meet the Architect

Cobus van den Berg was born and raised in a Dutch family in Cape Town, South Africa. He firmly believes that a crucial part of architecture is listening to the land. “The land has a voice,” he says. “By listening to and understanding the land’s characteristics, I can integrate my designs flawlessly, so they disappear and blend into the landscape.” 

Having practiced the discipline of architecture at a focused, high level for more than 36 years, van den Berg has worked for multi-disciplinary architectural firms in locations around the globe including various parts of Africa, Oman, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Italy, France and the United States. “Travel and exploration exposed me to all types of architecture, allowing me to look at problems and potential solutions through a wider lens,” he says. 

“Success depends on an individual’s ability to listen and understand,” adds van den Berg. “This way, it is possible to channel imagination, experience and understanding to create utterly bespoke residential designs.” 

BERG Design Architects, based in Park City, was founded in 2018 and has expanded to include an international contingent of 28 highly specialized and talented professionals. The BERG process is to focus on the task at hand with a passion for what they do. “We find as much enjoyment in the process as we enjoy the final product!”