“It’s about something very important to all of us—our future.” –Sandra Kulli
The vision for Terraine all started with changing our relationship with the land and instead of being “separate” from nature—thinking of it as something that needs to be controlled or displaced—we embrace it. We’re listening to the land, leaving the hilltops for recreation with homes nestled between them. We’re developing a participatory culture where people are invited to see how beautiful this region is, and also to imagine what’s possible. At Terraine, we interact with nature. There are the beautiful native grasses and perennials, but there are also ecosystems that we can learn about and explore, and—above all—protect. All this means that for those seeking a place to live, the answer is yes, you can find a nature-inspired housing development. It’s right here.
PRETTY.WILD.
A shift in what’s beautiful.
What does it look like when you let nature take the lead? When you redefine the idea of big water-thirsty front lawns and all those plantings meant to “tame” the outdoors? Well, it’s a shift in what beautiful looks like. It’s about letting nature be more, well, natural.
The breathtaking setting of the Salt Lake Valley is an ideal place for this kind of living experience. So this concept of Terraine: of new homes near the Oquirrh Mountains, an eco-friendly neighborhood, a walkable trail community in West Jordan—it’s an idea whose time has come.
People are starting to see the beauty in being surrounded by more trees, more flowering shrubs and perennials. And they’re appreciating how that supports pollination by bringing more birds, more butterflies, and other pollinators to the space. And how being a part of that cycle can be gratifying and important.
It’s what we said way back when we started thinking about this place: We consider it an imperative—an obligation—especially for our children and grandchildren. A restorative place, with sustainable buildings, and a sustainable way of life is what we’re after. A place that fosters authentic connection to the earth and to each other.
OUTSIDE THE LINES
Stewardship & Free-Range Adventure
“When approaching a residential landscape, I think the default has been that lawn is almost treated like a blank canvas. And then you carve out planting beds, you carve out programs that you integrate into it.”
–Marcus Pulsipher, Loci
As we all know, we can’t keep importing yards from the Midwest and the East Coast. We’ve got to think about things differently, in the context of Utah. At Terraine, we’re looking at water efficiency and purposeful planting, both in size and placement.
“Here are acres and acres and acres of that that kids are going to be able to go out, play, have fun. Parents are going to be able to go out and do it with them. They’re going to be able to mountain bike and hike. They’re going to be able to explore. They’re going to stumble over sage grouse and jackrabbits.”
–Marcus Pulsipher, Loci
When we start to blur the lines between ourselves and nature, the idea of home becomes less about inside and outside. Rather, it’s all around. That is how we start getting into a mindset of interaction and caretaking. It’s a personal investment, with opportunities to play in nature and learn. We’re going to take care of something and interact with it differently if we think about it being a part of us, rather something apart from us.
And it matters for kids (and grown-ups if truth be told). The science supports it. Getting outside makes a difference. In a family-friendly community in the Salt Lake Valley—and beyond.
DAILY GREENS
Our Green Fabric
Our community is made up of four distinct kinds of landscapes—each with a specific function. Together it makes up what we call our “green fabric” and it runs through Terraine and its meadows, gathering spaces, streetscapes, and more. It creates diversity and an organic relationship between these areas—the protected, the productive, the passive, and the active lands.
In addition, our sensitive approach to planting puts resilient native plants at the heart of the landscape design and prioritizes plant species that can tolerate non-irrigated conditions—something that makes sense, given Utah’s climate. We call this approach localscaping. And we’re not doing it alone: our friends at the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District have been instrumental in helping our team develop native and naturalized waterwise landscapes.
The four areas of Terraine’s Green Fabric land planning.
| SAGELANDS These important conservation areas surround the Terraine community and will provide a network of trails and open space. Here in the shadow of the Oquirrh Mountains, this vast and varied area is part of the Great Basin sagebrush ecosystem. Known as “the sagebrush sea,” the prairie grassland landscape not only surrounds us, but it also weaves between the homes and is an essential piece of the community’s identity. Farther afield, these lands will be used for conservation-focused research. | MEADOW LANDS This is the transitional area where the open space and the community meet. The Meadow Lands are where our neighborhoods live: streetscapes, homes, passive recreation areas, informal meetups, and large swaths of green space surround and connect all the other landscapes in the Terraine community. |
| CULTIVATED LANDS The connection to the legacy of this place is alive and well in our cultivated lands. For generations, the Wood family worked this land. Today that agricultural history lives on at Terraine in the community’s gardens and orchards,. Edible landscapes and community gardens will bring neighbors together and provide bountiful opportunities for agriculture-based education programs. | ACTIVE LANDS Throughout the community, we have informal sports fields and greens. These are places for pickup games and casual social gatherings. It’s where a thoughtful approach to landscaping happens. Responsibility lives here—and so drought-tolerant grass minimizes the need for the irrigation and maintenance typical of that thirsty Kentucky Bluegrass. Here we take only what we need, and find we really sacrifice nothing |
“We’ve got apples, apricots, peaches, and plums coming—the orchards bring back the legacy of the land.”
In both the cultivated and active lands, we are mindful about water usage. At the Conservation Garden Park, you can learn about your own landscape and how to manage water wisely.
GREENERY LOVES COMPANY
Community Participation
What better way to get to know your neighbors and cultivate community than taking part in both the enjoyment and the care of the land. This happens everywhere at Terraine: picnics, gardening, outdoor gatherings, and larger stewardship opportunities that include fruit harvesting and BioBlitzes. An edible landscape invites hands-on involvement. Harvest days and community greens cultivate community. At Terraine, we’ve created a place that prioritizes nature. We’ve planted the seed. It’s the people who will bring it to life.
A culture of participation. A place of growth.
The library lantern. Citizen science and stewardship. 10 miles of trails. There are so many ways to get involved. We think connecting to one another and to the community makes for a great place to live. And here nature and open space is the common denominator. It all adds up to an active, connected, and balanced lifestyle. And that puts the great in the great outdoors.
Looking for sustainable communities and eco-conscious development in Utah? For new homes in the Salt Lake Valley, discover a master planned community in West Jordan that’s focused on sustainable living and Great Basin-inspired landscapes. A project from Third Cadence real estate development, Terraine is a community designed for outdoor living in Utah. Come on up and see!
