Snow as Resource
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
Snow is treated as waste — plowed, salted, trucked away. But snow is also insulation, water storage, and play infrastructure. A ton of fresh snow contains roughly 100 liters of water. It insulates the ground beneath it, protecting roots and preventing frost heave. Children build with it.
Evidence and Discussion
Nordic design traditions use snow deliberately: snow fences create drifts where they're wanted (insulating gardens, filling cisterns in spring). Japanese snow country architecture uses steep roofs to direct snow into designated melt zones. Snow storage areas can be designed to feed rain gardens during spring melt.
Therefore
design the landscape and building to use snow rather than fight it. Direct roof snow to designated melt zones that feed rain gardens or cisterns. Use snow fences to protect gardens and create insulating drifts against north walls. Designate play areas where snow accumulation is welcome. In spring, route meltwater to storage rather than storm drains. Snow is not waste — it is the cold-climate equivalent of rainfall, and should be harvested accordingly.