In many mountain towns, car-centric development patterns are eroding community connections, limiting walkability, and impacting open space conservation. The Havens offers an alternative.
Located on Snowmass Ski Resort, this LEED Platinum-certified neighborhood of ten modernist homes is united by a restored alpine meadow rather than driveways. By removing cars from daily life and reclaiming shared spaces for people and nature, The Havens sets a new precedent for sustainable mountain living—one where community and ecology thrive together.
Context
Across the Mountain West, population growth, tourism, and real estate demand are accelerating pressure on rural resort communities. Traditional development models prioritize density, parking, and vehicle access—often at the expense of ecological health, affordable housing, and scenic character.
The Havens occupies a rare two-acre site directly on a ski run in Snowmass Village, one of the last undeveloped parcels in town. Surrounded by the Elk Mountains and steps from a vibrant base village, the project presented an opportunity to challenge conventional patterns by prioritizing walkability, shared space, and environmental stewardship.
Crafting a Neighborhood Without Cars
Parking is tucked discreetly below grade, allowing uninterrupted mountain views and eliminating vehicular noise, congestion, and emissions from the neighborhood core. Landscaped pathways replace roads, and a grading strategy reallocates 23% of the site from vehicular use to open space. This creates a pedestrian-first experience and strengthens connections to the surrounding landscape.
Placing parking below grade helps to remove cars from the neighborhood experience and protect scenic views.
A Place of Refuge
True to its name, The Havens offers a balance between privacy, community, and connection to nature. Shared outdoor spaces—including summer picnic nooks and winter après gathering spots—encourage year-round interaction and a sense of belonging. The neighborhood fosters both tranquility and active engagement with the outdoors.
Design Character
Influenced by the U.S. Forest Service’s Built Environment Image Guide, the architecture blends modernist forms with durable, natural materials that emerge from the native landscape. This approach grounds the neighborhood in its mountain setting while creating a comfortable, casual character.
Native High-Alpine Landscape
Rejecting manicured lawns, the landscape design reintroduces a native alpine meadow that flows between homes, supporting pollinators and reducing total water use by 75%. Carefully selected drought-tolerant species ensure ecological continuity in the face of harsh alpine conditions. New aspen trees provide privacy and, over time, will merge into the surrounding forest, knitting the neighborhood into its broader ecological context.