Style with Substance
think locally
Designing with a strong sense of place helps tie a home to its community, bringing substance to style and stewardship to development.
A synthesis of modern and traditional design maintains a sense of place in this home designed by Brian DePriest.
This article first appeared in Spring 2008 Su Casa
Taos seldom suffers from a shortage of colorful old-timers. I recall being cornered by one such character about 30 years ago as he opined that “there oughta be a law against damn fools building houses here till they’ve spent four seasons figuring out what this place is all about.”
Beneath all the crust and bluster, his basic message was sound: the Land of Enchantment is in fact a world of its own, and newcomers can easily make missteps if they’re in too much of a hurry. Far too often they try to recreate LA or Dallas or Muskogee lifestyles in their New Mexico homes, only to look back a year later and wish they’d taken more time to attune themselves to a new environment, a new architecture, and a very different culture. But by then it’s usually too late, and they may have purchased or built a home that fails to accommodate their new life and may even be downright embarrassing. In extreme cases, folks discover that New Mexico just doesn’t live up to their fantasy. They end up leaving altogether, and the rest of us end up with houses that don’t quite fit.
What constitutes good site use, what makes a building green, and what distinguishes an authentic home from a trite imitation? These are all important considerations that don’t necessarily yield their secrets at the curbside. Building or buying a house always warrants some research, and all the more so in a place where Nature and culture are so powerful. When you’re on the verge of pumping thousands of dollars into a home, you at least want to be sure the investment is well conceived.
A useful example is that of a couple who moved to Taos from the Houston area. As we toured a few of my homes, they reacted against Southwestern elements such as vigas, posts, and corbels, which they felt were strange and far too busy for them. I suggested that they remain open, continue to look around, and consider how their eye for style might change after months of living here. Taking my word for it (admittedly a risky choice), they asked me to design a green home that would blend into the piñon-juniper landscape and provide an interior with clean, contemporary function and restrained Southwestern detailing. The result: a flowing Rastra structure with a solar thermal system, very clean viga and coved plaster ceilings, and excellent but understated appliances and fixtures. While the house fits them like a glove, it would also appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers at resale time—and it absolutely wows the visitors from “back home.” A year later, the owners are still thanking me for convincing them to reevaluate their original preferences.
Most people relocate to New Mexico for more than just quality of life. Let’s face it: you can get Sub-Zeros anywhere and without all the dust and crummy roads. But nowhere else can you revel in this distinctive landscape, the Pueblo influence, the art community, and the pervasive mystique that draws us inexorably toward the Beyond. So if that’s what we come for, why not build homes that enhance the experience?
My pet peeve is the increasing number of production homes that are virtually indistinguishable from those of Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Florida. They are high on comfort and amenities, low on creativity, and make little attempt to connect with either the land or the architectural tradition it has fostered. The principal appeal of these homes seems to be that they are convenient, predictable, and affordable—much like a Big Mac.
This might sound harsh, but if designers and builders who love the land aren’t going to call for authentic buildings with a sense of place, who else is going to carry that banner? I view it as part of my job to promote good architecture, whether it’s mine or somebody else’s.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating for more cookie-cutter Santa Fe style homes. That, too, has been overdone with more style than substance. Rather, I’m simply underscoring the ways in which homes can link us to the environment and the community. The indigenous earth-building tradition did not stop evolving with the Pueblos any more than it did with the Territorial innovations or John Gaw Meem’s codification of Santa Fe style. In fact, the most exciting developments in the adobe tradition have emerged comparatively recently.
Building technology—concrete, steel, glass, and waterproofing—has made possible contemporary homes that remain distinctively regional while leaving behind the heaviness of old-time adobes in favor of expansive glass, increased roof spans, and a more playful array of building masses. Why not render the ubiquitous canale (originally a hollowed-out log) with a length of eight-inch well casing or create a ramada-like awning over the entry using two-inch iron pipe “latillas”? There’s plenty of room to design something fresh! As the last Style with Substance column suggested, contemporary homes also provide a stunning backdrop for primitive art and decor so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Green building, of course, is a truly momentous step toward creating homes in harmony with the land. Native and nontoxic materials, combined with water and energy systems that harness the laws of nature, invite us to reinvigorate our regional architecture along lines that benefit the entire planet. Deeply exploring the relationship between the building and the elements will give you both an effective site plan and a deeper appreciation of your surroundings. Sure enough, good ol’ adobe is once again perfect for the job: the bricks themselves temper extremes of heat and cold, while mud plaster actually sucks toxins out of the air and sequesters them in the walls.
So, at risk of sounding like a crusty Taos old-timer, I’m putting out the call to builders and buyers alike to ramp up and do a more responsible job of creating beautiful and appropriate architecture. This land is special beyond description—let’s take care of it.
Vishu Magee designs homes around Santa Fe and Taos. He is the author of Archetype Design: House as a Vehicle for Spirit. Contact him at
archetype-design.com.