Soleo: Structuring an Agrarian-Inspired Community

Reimagining Agricultural Heritage Through Community Design

In the fast-growing Southeast Valley of Arizona, a 473-acre stretch of land presented an opportunity to create something more than a conventional residential subdivision. For Tempe based ABLA, the goal was to structure a master-planned community with a distinct identity rooted in place, landscape and experience.

The result is Soleo, a single-family master-planned community shaped through the lens of Napa Valley-inspired agricultural design. Drawing from the region’s farming heritage, the project blends refined agrarian character with a modern planning framework designed to support walkability, lifestyle amenities and long-term market performance. 

Rather than treating planning and landscape architecture as separate phases, ABLA integrated both disciplines from the outset, allowing the structure of the land and the character of the community to evolve together.

Establishing the Framework

At Soleo, the planning framework began with a clear organizing principle: to create a walkable, connected community where open space and daily experience guide the structure of the land.

Neighborhoods were arranged around a system of parks, open-space corridors and trails that weave through the community. Instead of relying solely on streets for movement, ABLA developed an integrated trail network that links residential areas to amenities, open space and gathering areas, creating a continuous network that encourages walking, recreation and everyday connectivity.

This structure supports both community life and market performance. By organizing neighborhoods around open space and circulation hierarchy, the plan maintains clarity and coherence as the community grows and evolves.

The framework also established the foundation for Soleo’s agrarian design language, ensuring that landscape, architecture and planning decisions worked together to reinforce a unified identity.

Designing the Experience of Arrival

One of the defining characteristics of Soleo is how the community is experienced upon arrival.

ABLA intentionally designed the transition from surrounding arterial roads into the neighborhood to create a sense of arrival and calm. As residents enter the community, the environment shifts from regional infrastructure to shaded streets, meandering roadway geometry and open space.

This sequence gradually slows the pace of movement and introduces the character of the community. The arrival experience becomes the first expression of Soleo’s identity, reinforcing the feeling of entering a distinct place rather than simply another residential development.

Anchoring the Community

At the heart of Soleo is a central amenity area anchored by a two-acre lake and a 3,500-square-foot open-air amenity building designed by ABLA.

The structure reinforces the seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor space. As a non-conditioned building, it provides a flexible environment for community gathering while promoting wellness, sustainability and everyday interaction among residents. 

The lake serves as both a visual focal point and a key component of the irrigation system that supports the landscape framework. Together with the surrounding parks and open space, it creates a central destination that anchors the community.

Expressing Identity Through Landscape

While the planning framework organizes the land, landscape architecture gives physical form to the character of the community.

At Soleo, the design language draws inspiration from Napa Valley’s agrarian vernacular. Architectural forms emphasize simple massing, honest materials and careful detailing, creating an environment that feels both elevated and approachable.

Planting patterns reflect agricultural influences, referencing orchard rows and cultivated landscapes. Parks, streetscapes and entry elements are intentionally composed to establish rhythm, reinforce hierarchy and guide movement through the community.

These design choices ensure that Soleo’s identity is not defined by isolated amenities, but by a cohesive landscape experience residents encounter throughout the neighborhood.

Planning With Long-Term Performance in Mind

Soleo includes approximately 1,435 homes and was developed by Tri Pointe Homes and W Holdings.

ABLA provided a full range of services for the project, including land planning, entitlement services, master planning, landscape architecture, character and theming, signage planning and construction services. This integrated approach allowed ABLA to guide the project from early planning through construction, ensuring the original vision remained intact as the community was delivered.

The result is a community where the planning structure and design expression reinforce one another — a place that delivers character, connectivity and lasting market distinction.