The Crossing

Framed by the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River, The Crossing in Buena Vista, Colorado, is a modern mountain neighborhood featuring a collection of homes designed by East Slope Design Studios. The seven distinct home types include Piñon, Alpine, Bristlecone, Sage, Lodgepole, Estrella, and Ciello, and together they share a unified language of clean lines, expansive glass, and timeless forms. Each residence distills the alpine vernacular into contemporary silhouettes, pairing smooth stucco, vertical nickel gap siding, and lap siding with a muted palette drawn from the surrounding landscape. Bristlecone and Sage are paired condominiums, Estrella and Ciello form a second over-under condo residence, Lodgepole is a townhome, and Piñon and Alpine are single-family homes. Steps from downtown and moments from the trails, The Crossing offers a seamless blend of design and place, with homes that feel both current and enduring, and a community that lives in rhythm with the mountain.

Home in The Crossing

Piñon

Piñon draws from Southwest vernacular to create a home that feels both rooted and contemporary. Smooth stucco planes and clean, modern lines frame generous south-facing elevations, allowing daylight to animate the interior from morning to evening. To the west, a covered front porch grounds the entry, while above, a secondary bedroom opens to a private balcony—a quiet place to watch the sunset over the valley. On the opposite side, the primary suite extends to an east-facing balcony, catching the first light of day. Inside, open volumes and warm finishes soften the home’s geometry, creating a dialogue between its modern form and the high-desert context.

Home in The Crossing

Alpine

The Alpine frames mountain living with a balance of openness and intimacy. On the main level, a generous kitchen flows into a dining banquette and a living area anchored by a modern fireplace, all extending to a sunlit south-facing patio. Upstairs, the primary suite offers a private balcony with sweeping views of the Collegiate Peaks, paired with a five-piece bath for a touch of luxury. Two additional bedrooms complete the upper level, creating space for family, guests, or a dedicated home office. With an efficient footprint, warm finishes, and thoughtful connections to the outdoors, Alpine captures the clarity and comfort of life in the Rockies.

Home in The Crossing

Bristlecone & Sage

Bristlecone and Sage reimagine multi-residence living as two distinct yet harmonious homes. Sage, on the ground floor, offers a one-bedroom plan with direct access to a private yard and a light-filled living space anchored by an efficient kitchen. Above, Bristlecone’s open-plan living and dining areas extend to a west-facing deck that captures the peaks in every season, with an east-facing rear deck for morning light. Both homes share a refined exterior palette and an emphasis on natural light, proportion, and connection to the outdoors—balancing individuality with a cohesive architectural presence.

Townhome in The Crossing (on the left)

Estrella & Cielo

Estrella and Cielo pair modern Southwest forms with a restrained palette of smooth stucco and Douglas fir mass timber accents. The Cielo, on the upper level, extends its living space to a wraparound covered deck that opens westward to the sunset and northward toward the neighborhood and peaks beyond. Below, Estrella offers a compact two-bedroom layout with an open kitchen and living area, designed to draw light deep into the plan. Together, they express a measured balance of solid and void, using simple forms and warm materials to create a quiet presence on the street.

Townhome in The Crossing (on the right)

Lodgepole

Lodgepole refines the vertical townhome into a compact form oriented to light and view. Its longest side faces south, drawing daylight deep into the interiors, while a covered front porch opens to the west for afternoon warmth. To the east, a second-level deck offers a quiet, morning-facing retreat, complementing a ground-level patio that extends the main living space outdoors. Simple massing and a restrained material palette give Lodgepole a clarity of form, while layered outdoor spaces create variety and connection at every level.

Affordable Housing in The Crossing

Chaffee Housing Trust Modular Homes

Designed in collaboration with Fading West for the Chaffee Housing Trust, this project introduces four modular buildings that expand access to attainable housing in Buena Vista. Each building contains three or four condominiums, but the exteriors were carefully composed to read as single, cohesive structures. Subtle shifts in form and detailing create variety while maintaining a unified character, and a distinct architectural element at the center of each building provides rhythm and identity. Through proportion, material, and thoughtful composition, the design elevates modular construction and ties the project to the broader language of The Crossing neighborhood.