The small resort-town of Telluride in the Colorado Rocky Mountains is known for its world-class skiing, remote location and, until now, lack of low-cost housing. When the tourist numbers begin to pile up during the busy season, those working in the hospitality industry at restaurants, shops and resorts are often forced to endure a long commute from the areas outside of town, where prices are cheaper.

The expensive hotel rooms and vacation homes are a dream for visitors, but when it comes to lower- to middle-class workers, affordable accommodations are scarce. Architecture firm Charles Cunniffe Architects out of Aspen recently completed a low-cost option for housing just outside of central Telluride, with rents as low as $385 per person.

Related: COBE unveils LEED Gold-seeking affordable housing units in Toronto

The complex consists of a boarding house with room for 46 tenants, another building with 18 separate apartments and three tiny homes. You wouldn’t know by looking at it that Virginia Placer is considered low-cost housing. The architects blended the structures among the plentiful high-end resorts and expensive housing for which Telluride is known.

The buildings are placed at the base of a tree-covered mountain, and the exterior is made of high-quality wooden panels and a variety of metals, including steel. The apartment building utilizes open-air stairs and wooden balconies, while the boarding house has a huge deck with mountain views and a canopy for protection from the elements. Inside the boarding house, communal lounges and two kitchens are available for tenants to use.

With a focus on sustainability, the designers installed oversized windows into the apartments for passive solar and ventilation. The tiny homes across the street from the main two buildings share the same design of metal and cedar and total 290 square feet of living space per dwelling.

Scoring a spot in the development is a literal win — potential tenants are chosen through a lottery. Apartments range from  $850 to $1430 a month, while a tiny home costs $700 monthly. The cheapest option for individuals is the communal boarding house for $385 per month per person.

Photography by Dallas & Harris Photography via Charles Cunniffe Architects

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Virginia Placer by Charles Cunniffe Architects

Charles Cunniffe Architects has created a beautiful development of affordable housing units in Telluride, Colorado.

The community offers affordable boarding, apartments and tiny homes for people working in the local hospitality industry.

The area is known for world-class skiing and draws many visitors year-round.

As such, local workers have been priced out of the area, forcing them to live outside of town and commute long distances.

The Virginia Placer development offers affordable housing in a variety of layouts.

Apartments, like this one here, are bright and chic.

Apartment options range from $850 to $1430 a month.

The community offers boarding for 46 tenants, 18 apartment units and three tiny homes.

The boarding house offers rent as low as $385 per person.

The boarding house has sleek, modern communal spaces for its tenants.

Views of the surroundings are available from nearly every angle.

The boarding house offers two shared kitchens for its residents.

Plentiful windows offer excellent views of the surroundings.

A massive balcony invites residents to enjoy the outdoors.

Just across the road from the apartment complex and the boarding house, there are three tiny homes.

Each home spans 290 square feet.

The tiny houses feature a minimalist design throughout.

The dwellings cost $700 per month.

Potential tenants for all three housing options are chosen through a lottery.