VooDoo is a Town of Telluride-led, community-driven, mixeduse affordable housing development located in the heart of Telluride, Colorado. Designed to address pressing housing needs in this mountain resort town, the project delivers 27 deedrestricted residential units and 3,000 square feet of commercial space. Situated on a compact 0.39-acre infill site adjacent to Town Park and the historic warehouse district, VooDoo integrates sustainability, heritage preservation, and social equity into a single, high-impact development.
VooDoo was designed specifically for essential workers who keep the community vibrant year-round. It includes a range of unit types—from studios to four-bedroom apartments—intended to serve individuals and families earning between 110–170% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Its central location supports walkability, access to services, and year-round residential presence in downtown Telluride, reducing reliance on commuting from outlying areas.
Situated within Telluride’s Historic Landmark District, the architecture of VooDoo reflects a careful balance between contemporary design and respect for historic context. A palette of brick, concrete, wood, and metal nods to the town’s industrial, mining heritage, while varying rooflines—mixing flat and gabled forms—reference traditional mountain vernacular and relate to the surrounding historic “crib” structures, helping the building integrate seamlessly into its architectural setting.
The residential units are designed to enhance comfort and wellbeing, offering generous daylight, private outdoor decks or porches, and expansive mountain views. Direct access to the outdoors promotes passive social interaction and enhances the sense of neighborhood. Below-grade parking preserves the pedestrian-friendly streetscape and supports a walkable urban core.
At street level, VooDoo strengthens both the local economy and the public realm. Commercial space is allocated through a Townmanaged RFP process that prioritizes locally owned businesses, with intentionally subsidized leases to support long-term affordability. The development also includes a public restroom, a youth hangout, and the relocated “Free Box,” a beloved Telluride fixture for sharing gently used goods.
A highlight of the project is the adaptive reuse of a 550-squarefoot historic shed, now restored and transformed into “The Shed”—a dedicated youth hangout space designed for middle and high school students. The original wood siding was carefully removed, cataloged, and reinstalled after new insulation was added, preserving the building’s character while improving its performance. The interior features recycled rubber flooring, stainless steel countertops, a 150-square-foot loft, and flexible furnishings to support a wide range of academic, creative, and social uses. The Shed now anchors a small public plaza, reinforcing the project’s civic role and fostering community connection.
Together, VooDoo and The Shed offer not just homes, but a vibrant, inclusive living environment that reflects the values and future of Telluride.
Sustainability and Performance
VooDoo is an all-electric building, eliminating fossil fuel use for heating and cooling. A rooftop photovoltaic array offsets energy demand from the snowmelt system and allows for future expansion toward net-zero goals. The project achieves a Benchmark EUI of 48 and complies with the 2018 IECC energy code, with a carefully balanced 21% window-to-wall ratio to optimize performance.
Key energy-saving and sustainability features include:
• High-performance insulation and advanced air sealing
• Efficient glazing and exterior circulation for cross-ventilation
• Operable windows and private outdoor porches
• Locally produced brick and recyclable Hardie Board siding
• Energy Star appliances, low-flow fixtures, and 100% LED lighting
Compact unit design and increased density help reduce the carbon footprint per dwelling, while thoughtful material selection—such as wood-look LVT flooring and quartzite countertops—ensures durability without compromising aesthetics or comfort.
Community Impact
VooDoo and The Shed demonstrate how a small mountain town can address housing affordability, sustainability, and historic preservation in a single, replicable model. The project strengthens Telluride’s social and cultural fabric by allowing essential workers to live near their jobs, supporting small businesses through subsidized commercial leases, and activating public space with restored community amenities.
By blending context-sensitive architecture with forward-thinking sustainability strategies, VooDoo proves that affordable housing can be both high-performing and deeply rooted in place.
