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7 Steps to your Dream House
Gallery of Homes |
| History
of the Southwest Style
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. |
| Home
Styles
There are many styles in the Valley that are distinctively southwest. |
Home
6 This
is a southwest contemporary that oftentimes 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.
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Southwest
Territorial -Those logs you see at the top of the southwest territorial
are called vigas. Stucco is a popular siding in this style (and most
southwest homes). It handles the desert heat well and can cover adobe
brick although that is a more expensive, custom home. The charm and
character reflect the influences of Native American and the original
settlers from Spain. Styles adapted from this are the Santa Fe and Pueblo.
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.
There
is just one home missing, and that is the custom one you will be
building! Many of the upscale homes in the Northeast Valley are custom
homes with various styles. If you are drawn to one design or another,
I have custom builders and architects that I can help match you with your
particular style! Once the house begins construction, I’ll be taking digital
photos of it for you for your album, or if you are not here while it’s
being constructed, I can set up a private website page for your viewing.
Of course, I can email you the photos as well.
