A Sculptural Sanctuary In Utah Where Design Meets Nature

Perched atop an ancient lava field that offers breathtaking views of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve—in the southwestern corner of Utah—this two-level home seems to emerge from the landscape. This is precisely the unique panorama that guided the design. Outside, the house’s black façade echoes the volcanic rock while inside, the muted tones create a contemplative atmosphere. “Our goal was to create a home that feels as though it’s always belonged here,” says Jourdan Hammond, principal designer at Design Studio JAC, a multidisciplinary studio based between Miami, Florida and Belgium that she cofounded with Ashley Viola and Céline Hellin. 

With its flat rooflines, thick stucco walls, and a palette drawn from earth, the architecture embraces the vernacular language of the Southwest—a modern interpretation of Pueblo Revival and Santa Fe style. Chosen for both their tactility and endurance, natural materials prevail in all the spaces, from lime-plastered walls and wide-plank Belgian wood floors in the main living areas to microcement wrapping in the bedrooms. 

When the homeowners—who had already trusted Design Studio JAC on several projects in South Florida—acquired the home, its interiors had been completely cleared after a fire. “It gave us incredible creative freedom,” Hammond recalls. “We could rethink every surface, every proportion, every detail.”

The serene and warm color scheme was defined after the design team photo-documented every shade of the surrounding desert, resulting in the intentional use of muted greens to evoke cacti, dusty taupe for the lava stone, and the blush tones of sandstone at dusk. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows frame the scenery, making it the ‘art’ that changes according to the hour of the day and the time of the year. Balancing gathering areas with restful nooks, the house blurs the lines between inside and outside, becoming a place to slow down and connect with the natural beauty around. “It is a home that feels deeply rooted in the land, with quiet, sculptural interiors that mirror the drama of the surrounding desert,” Hammond concludes.