When Maxim Gorky depicted the life of an industrial settlement in his immortal novel 'Mother,' the main human aspiration of that time was to ensure workers had a decent life, safe housing, and a better future for their children. The main characteristic of industrial settlements of that era was the smoke from chimneys, the noise of machines, and constant hustle and bustle.
Today, nearly a hundred years later, the world has undergone significant changes: instead of smoking chimneys, gleaming high-tech laboratories have appeared. Nevertheless, the concept of a 'company town'—a settlement owned by the company itself—is being revived in a completely new format.
In Texas, near the city of Austin, on the calm shores of the Colorado River, a new settlement called Snellbrook is taking shape. This is a 21st-century city where the fatigue and smog of the past have given way to high-tech amenities, and the lifestyle combines work with a completely different approach to daily life.
This residential area, created under the name Project Amazing, is located near complexes of major technology companies such as The Boring Company, SpaceX, and Neuralink, close to Austin. The goal of creating this entire settlement is extremely clear: to shield employees from daily long traffic jams and hustle so they can spend time with their families without spending hours commuting to work.
The name 'Snellbrook' has an interesting origin. The main activity of The Boring Company is the creation of tunneling machines capable of laying underground tunnels many times faster than a snail.
When comparing Snellbrook with the old industrial settlements of Gorky's time, this place looks like the embodiment of a utopia. Special attention is paid here to comfort, relaxation, and work-life balance for employees.
In the Bastrop area, renting a double apartment costs about $2200 USD, equivalent to approximately 1.8 lakh rupees per month. Meanwhile, in Snellbrook, employees can receive a fully equipped modular home for only $800, which is about 67,000 rupees.
The streets here also have unusual names; they are named not after politicians, but after parts of tunnel boring machines. Montessori kindergartens for employee children are already open within the settlement. Additionally, sports and entertainment facilities such as swimming pools, modern gyms, tennis, and pickleball courts are available.
The dream of a better life, quality education for children, and family security represented in Gorky's novel 'Mother' is being realized in a modern 21st-century context in Snellbrook. This settlement represents a clean, green, and fully technology-integrated area, where the main focus is on making the workplace and living environment calm, comfortable, and stress-free.
There is also a clear rule: if an employee leaves the company or loses their job, they must vacate their housing within 30 days. This condition is an integral part of the entire system of this settlement.
From a legal and administrative standpoint, Snellbrook currently functions as a private residential complex under the rules of Bastrop County. While the Starbase project in South Texas became an official municipality after local votes and legal procedures, Snellbrook is gradually acquiring its own self-sufficient identity.
This project demonstrates that modern large technology corporations are not limited to just hiring personnel; they are conducting new experiments by offering their employees an easy, well-equipped, and happy life right next to the offices. It will be very interesting to see how much this Snellbrook model becomes an example for other cities around the world in the future.
In short, Snellbrook is not just a settlement consisting of modular homes, pickleball courts, and streets; it is a vast canvas for the future of urban society. In Gorky's era, the workers' struggle was for basic rights and dignity, whereas the true test of modern Snellbrook lies in maintaining the balance between amenities and corporate control. Only time will tell whether these new 'company towns,' living thanks to technology and decisions made in boardrooms, will become a true new 'utopia' that eases human life, or if it will just be another experiment limited by corporate frameworks.
