Traditional southwest style houses feature vigas, latillas, kiva fireplaces and adobe bricks structurally or as an accent.  Even the traditional southwest style homes have modern floorplans!

Nowhere in the United States is the blending of Native American and western cultures better exemplified than in the southwest. The basic structure of earthen walls supporting a flat roof is Native American, a tradition extending back for more than a thousand years.

The Spanish adopted this basic structure. Their technique of forming the mud into bricks made construction more rapid. The metal tools they brought facilitated the cutting and working of timber. Thus wooden doors, and portales supported by zapatas were added to the repertory of forms. This led to more spacious living areas as well as large enclosed public spaces.

The arrival of the railroad in the 1800's brought new building materials, (including metal for roofs, glass for windows) and better tools. Also midway through that century the first sawmills were built which reformed the local building technology by processing posts, beams and board. The Pueblo and Spanish architecture were inspired by Pueblo and other Native American motifs to create a style known as Pueblo. The Spanish influence created what is known as the Santa Fe.

Today's homebuilders combine many of the best elements of contemporary and traditional design features to create new exciting southwestern style homes.

How to Speak Southwestern!

Adobe - a building material originally made out of mud and straw, commonly made into bricks, now made out of sand and clay.
Bancos - low earthen benches, built into the walls for seating.
Canale - water spout or roof drain.
Hacienda - territorial mansion
Kiva - originally a pit house used for worship, now used to connote shape, such as kiva (round front) fireplace.
Latillas - small branches, usually used to form a ceiling, often placed on vigas.
Portales - porches, covered and supported by zapatas.
Ramada - Freestanding canopy made of four imposts and a roof.
Satillo - clay or terra cotta tile, traditionally cured in the sun, now often a fired, smoother finished version called super satillo.
Stucco - plaster or mud finish, now usually a cement product.
Viga - round wooden beam, ceiling support.
Zapata - corbelled (a short timber placed under a beam) imposts (the point at which an arch rests on a wall or column)

Su Casa Magazine, 420 Central SW, Albuquerque New Mexico, 87103
Subscribe: Tel: (505) 243-3444 Fax: (505) 243-4118

There are many styles in the Valley that are distinctively southwest.

At any rate, you WILL find your dream home here. There is something for everyone! Please call me when you’re ready.