Rare Midcentury Modern Mansion in Salt Lake City That Was Home to the Inventor of Artificial Heart Is Listed for $4.8 Million

Nestled in the hillside of one of Salt Lake City’s most desirable neighborhoods is an award-winning midcentury modern masterpiece that boasts an illustrious line of past owners almost as impressive as its architectural pedigree.

The 5,447-square-foot house, which is on the market for $4.8 million, was originally built in 1957 for the family of Smith’s Food & Drug—a popular grocery store chain that still exists today. 

The mastermind behind the one-of-a-kind estate was none other than Swiss architect Eduard Dreier, who brought Bauhaus principles to the modernist movements of Utah and Nevada.

However, beyond its storied origins, the half-acre property has been home to several other notable innovators, according to current owner Christa Zaro.  

“The inventor of the artificial heart, Dr. Clifford Kwan-Gett, lived here, as did the inventor of JBL speakers,” says Zaro. “Throughout the years, we’ve also welcomed back many adults who lived here as children. It’s just that kind of memorable place.”

Zaro and her family purchased the home in 2004, attracted by its timeless design and unmatched setting.

“We knocked on the door and offered to buy it,” she recalls.

Since then, they’ve meticulously restored the home to its original intent while integrating thoughtful modern updates. Their work earned the Utah Heritage Foundation Award for Restoration and Rehabilitation.

Signature Dreier elements shine throughout—including cantilevered rooflines, quarried Idaho rock walls now impossible to source, and steel-beam construction paired with floor-to-ceiling glass. These walls of glass frame old-growth trees and lush gardens, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

“It makes you feel like the outside is in,” Zaro says.

The home’s updated saltwater pool, radiant-heated slate floors, and a spalike steam shower are among the many modern comforts.

In 2016, a 1,100-square-foot guesthouse designed by Dreier protégé Brent Groesback was added. Floating above the main home, it mirrors Dreier’s aesthetic with steel beams and expansive windows, while offering a private hot tub, full kitchen, and panoramic views of the Wasatch Foothills.

The home’s kitchen was also entirely reimagined in 2016, with Vermont green slate sourced to match the original hallway floors and the home’s original glass shelving replicated.

Custom walnut cabinets, original hardware rechromed to a gleam, and high-end appliances blend authenticity with luxury. In the primary bath, a soaking tub offers views of the succulent gardens and valley floor beyond. 

“Features include office, custom walnut millwork, vintage hardware, two chef’s kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows, gallery walls for artwork, heated saltwater pool and jacuzzi, basketball court, old growth trees, pollinator flower and succulent gardens, Italian lighting, steam shower, and secure gates by Utah artist Cordell Taylor,” the listing boasts.

The property’s location is as sought-after as its design.

Just minutes from the University of Utah, Red Butte Garden, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and vibrant downtown neighborhoods, it also enjoys quick freeway access to Park City and world-class ski resorts. And yet, its mountainside setting ensures a sense of tranquility. 

“There’s nothing quite like it,” Zaro says. “The privacy is unparalleled, but it’s so close to everything. On some days, you can even hear the lions roar from the zoo down the road.”