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.
 |
Commonly
referred to as Santa Barbara, Spanish
Colonial, Mediterranean, this style
is a common and popular reflection of the various
influences of our cultures.
The
tile roof, originally made from clay and imported
from
Mexico, now is made of cement, a more durable
and stronger material that can be molded
into a flat, slate-like tile, or an s-curved
tile.
|
The
fact that it is cement means it can be colored
and is no longer just the popular brick-color
clay. Its durability gives it a lifespan of approximately
50 years. |
 |
|
 |
Our
closeness to California and the migration
of many Californians to the desert brought
their builders as well! Therefore, there
is a strong California influence in
the southwest architecture in the Valley.
This is the most popular style, and one that
you will see in many subdivisions.
|
The
floorplan can be easily designed with as many
bedrooms as desired, and all master bedrooms
have their own bath. Outdoor patios are "de
rigueur" because our gorgeous weather contributes
to enjoyable outdoor entertainment and dining. |
|
|
A Spanish
charmer or hacienda that has a front porch
for morning coffee or late afternoon tea. It generally
carries the charm to the patio or patios in the
back with courtyards that are almost retreats.
Lush gardens add to the serenity that is felt throughout
the home. You can almost know that it will have
a kiva (or sometimes called "beehive")
fireplace.
A
true southwest home that is a combination
of styles. Because of its versatility, the
floorplan can be anything you want it to be. However,
you will find that what has become a popular plan
is the great room. Instead of a formal living room
and dining room, which many people are no longer
gravitating to, those rooms are now one "great" room,
open and airy. The kitchen will still have the breakfast
area and family room combination. The patio may be
extended for outdoor entertaining by the pool. A
BBQ can be built as part of the patio.
 |
This
is a southwest con--temporary that
often times is very large, and custom built.
Contemporary southwest style homes have many
of the same features as the traditional southwest
homes. Generally the materials are used in
a more modern way, or in a contemporary style.
|
The
contemporary style homes may still have adobe,
vigas, latillas and stone; however the materials
are not used in a rustic manner. They
are typically stucco and may be accented with
pueblo style
features or red tile roofs. |
|
|
|
