Local Architecture

Architectural Vocabulary of Santa Fe

• Adobe: A mixture of dirt, sand, chopped straw and water that is molded into sun-dried bricks or used as plaster
• Canales: Drain spouts, often decorative, protruding through the roof parapet.
• Corbel: A carved, decorative piece of wood that tops a post and helps support a beam.
• Kiva Fireplace: A small, round fireplace named for the round, flat-roofed ceremonial rooms of Indian pueblos.
• Latillas: Small branches, often cedar or pine, laid perpendicular to the roof vigas.
• Lintel: Exposed support beams above windows or doorways
• Northern New Mexico Style: Pitched roof, often of tin, sometimes brightly colored. Often with long portales and larger windows.
• Parapet: A low wall extending above the roof line in pueblo style architecture
• Passive Solar: A home constructed and sited to take advantage of solar gain, without using any solar equipment.
• Portal: An attached, covered porch supported by posts and corbels.
• Pueblo Revival Style: Stucco walls with rounded parapets, usually with flat roofs. Omteropr vigas extend to the exterior.
• Territorial Style: Stucco walls with square parapets, brick coping around the top and Victorian-style window moldings
• Vigas: Exposed round logs used for ceiling beams

Sponsored by Bob Burbic and Searchsantafe.com. Copyright 2007, all rights reserved.