The fact that nearly 90 percent of the houses in Alpine are owner-occupied shows that it is an ideal place to call home. After all, this small city has the perfect balance of nature and community. Alpine has gorgeous topography for those who love the outdoors, including extensive mountain biking trails and the American Fork Canyon. At the same time, this city is shaped by a strong workforce and diverse residents. It comes as no surprise, then, that houses here are among the most expensive not only in Utah but in the whole of America. And it follows that the best houses need the best architects.
Good thing, Alpine has numerous competitive residential architects, and we listed the best five of them—based on expertise, design familiarity, and other stand-out qualities.
Think Architecture
7927 South High Point Parkway, Suite 300 Sandy, UT 84094
Think Architecture has established itself as a creative and imaginative firm. It works in16 states and provides projects in both the private and public sectors. Since 1980, the firm has been finding unique ways to blend its residential projects with the natural beauty of its surroundings. A perfect example is the Summit Creek residence, pictured below. The home is the epitome of the firm’s fondness of creating a seamless flow between the outdoors and indoors.
Since Think Architecture is a visionary firm, its designs go beyond the boundaries of the usual. It’s particularly important, as a result, that the company’s designs are executed appropriately during construction. The firm’s architecture design process involves collaborating with experts on the constructability of the design—particularly on building details, mechanical and structural systems, and elevations.
Clayton Vance Architecture
345 W 600 South, Suite 108 Heber City, UT 84032
Clayton Vance is an expert in traditional architecture, having a master’s in Classical Architecture and Traditional Urbanism. He advocates his passion in these disciplines through teaching and serving in positions such as the Historic Preservation Board of Park City, Utah. Vance has also gained significant insights from his working experiences in different states: New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, and Utah.
Clayton Vance creates informative videos on traditional architecture basics such as Tudor Arch, Cornice, Dormer, and Architrave for potential clients. Vance also writes blogs, specifically on timeless designs and the advantages of natural materials versus engineered ones. If clients would want more proof of Vance’s expertise, his portfolio has numerous samples of homes with classic foundations, such as this Crittenden Residence.
BHD Architects
65 East Wadsworth Park Drive, Suite 205 Draper, UT 84020
The past three decades have been productive for BHD Architects. The firm has completed hundreds of projects of varying types and sizes. And one of the best features of the company is its economic designs, believing that a good design should be affordable too. The firm offers clients free photo-realistic renderings of the building.
While the firm has been in business since the 80s, BHD Architects is enthusiastic about current technology. The company currently designs using 3D software, drones, infrared cameras, tripod-mounted lasers, and 360-degree cameras. Keeping up with changing times allows the firm to attract new clients from different sectors—from corporate, institutional, government, and residential. This Highland Residence above is just one of the many residential projects of the firm.
Greg Steffensen Architect
9160 S 300W Suite 20, Sandy, UT 84070
Greg Steffensen Architect is a boutique firm that takes on high-end projects. Being a small firm is an advantage for the company for this allows exclusivity and focus. As a result, clients often comment on how the firm can deliver a design exactly how they want it and even more. The company designed a classic New England/Farmhouse style home that perfectly blends with an old church/school nearby. The homeowners were delighted with how their home exudes the charm of early 1900s architecture.
Clients are also impressed with the effort that Greg Steffensen Architect gives throughout the whole process. In one instance, Steffensen himself went to California to learn about the architectural design elements that a client wants to see in the home. Other industry professionals have also shared positive feedback on the firm, particularly when it comes to the company’s communication skills and long-standing partnerships.
Kelly Swan Architecture
10 S 300 E, American Fork, UT 84003
From elaborate treehouses in the Northwestern forests of his youth to award-winning residential design as an architect, Kelly Swan has always been drawn to architecture, engineering, and design. In an effort to create more substantive designs, Swan built his knowledge and understanding by working in the construction industry and completing a degree in Construction Management prior to his formal education in Architecture.
Since then, Swan has designed several award-winning projects, including the People’s Choice award for the 2019 Park City Showcase, while principal architect for Ezra Lee Design+Build. Now as the principal architect of his own firm, Swan says each project and each client interaction is personal. His goal is to work close enough with clients that he can put himself in their shoes and then use his experience to guide them to a perfect solution to their project.
