City Design
By Sam Lewis
The ski industry has determined the cultural development of Utah from the state's beginning. Specifically, metropolitan planning and design are large cultural factors that have been impacted by the ski industry. Metropolitan planning has taken on distinct forms in Uthan towns to better accommodate and envelop the ski town culture. We see towns form tightly around and between resorts to foster economic growth through tourism. Often these towns have a popular main street with nice shops and restaurants to further attract tourism. The ski industry affects the types of businesses in surrounding towns as bars, art studios, and outdoor shops flourish. Civil design such ski lifts serving as street benches further endorses ski culture and business. Architecture is also undoubtedly affected by the ski industry as we see yurts, log cabins, A-frames, and European inspired chalets emerge. These architectural styles have strong ties to the ski industry all around the world and it’s not surprised they appear here in Utah towns. The design and layout of these towns endorse the ski industry as the town's success is largely reliant on the ski industry. This results in a unique culture heavily based around ski life in many towns throughout Utah.