Santa Fe Architecture
Santa Fe architecture is as unique as Santa Fe itself. Here are some highlights of what you’re likely to encounter—or not encounter—in your quest for that perfect Santa Fe home.
Adobe: Santa Fe homes were traditionally constructed of adobe brick, a mixture of sun-dried clay bricks, mixed with grasses for strength, and mortared with mud. Adobe is an excellent insulator; and adobe homes stay warm in winter and cool in summer. You won’t see sharp edges or corners in home built of adobe bricks; part of the material’s charm is soft, rounded corners. While some new Santa Fe homes are still built of adobe—most achieve the “look” of an adobe-style home through frame construction and the artful use of stucco.
Rastra®. Rastra® is also being used for new homes. It’s an alternative building material—a building block made of recycled polystyrene (old coffee cups) and concrete. It's easy to work with, energy efficient and cost effective. Rastra® homes can have the look of a traditional Santa Fe house while having the characteristics of an energy-efficient, eco-friendly home.
Color palette: Simple: it’s tans and browns. Santa Fe homes blend in to the landscape around them. You won’t see a range of colors. Even multi-million dollar mansions are discretely tucked into the hills. Dirt roads: Some of the most expensive real estate in town is located on dirt roads. And nobody’s anxious to pave. It’s part of Santa Fe’s charm—and very much in keeping with the “blend in with the landscape” philosophy.
Fireplaces: It’s hard to find a Santa Fe home without one. And many homes have multiple fireplaces, including one outside, on the portal. A curved fireplace, placed in a corner, is called a kiva. There’s nothing cozier than piñon logs burning in the fireplace on a snowy Santa Fe evening.
Nichos. The nicho is Santa Fe’s answer to a showcase. It’s a small, recessed area of a wall—the perfect place to display a piece of sculpture or, for the traditionalists, the carved santo that you got at Spanish Market.
The front door. It says “Santa Fe” before you even enter the house. It’s often heavy, carved, antique, or antique-looking—and the door hardware is just as distinctive, whether it’s hand-wrought or just looks like it.
Courtyard: Outdoor living is a feature of life in Santa Fe, and many homes have courtyards—often as part of the entryway. They’re inviting outdoor spaces, often featuring a fountain or sculpture, and lush container plantings.
Portal. Another popular feature of Santa Fe homes, the portal is a covered patio, ideal for dining, entertaining, or just enjoying those fabulous Santa Fe sunsets.
Carpeting: You won’t see much of the wall-to-wall variety in Santa Fe homes. Brick, stone and tile floors are more Santa Fe style. But look for area rugs to soften and add color to a room’s décor.
Vigas: Santa Fe ceilings are anything but plain. Look up and you’ll often see vigas, long beams that support the roof. Latillas are the wood strips between the vigas. On the house’s exterior, you’ll see the ends of the vigas. Canales channel water from the roof, where water-wise Santa Feans often place a rain barrel.
Bancos. Picture an adobe wall that bumps out and becomes a bench. That bench is a banco. But you don’t have to use it for seating; it’s a good display area too.
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