Here are some home types to consider for the Southwestern U.S.
Homes in the desert Southwest are unique in a number of ways. One of the most obvious is the visual differences, but more than that they are built to survive the extremes of heat and cold you may encounter in an unforgiving land.
This lens will provide an introduction to the many homestyles available to Southwestern residents and will help you see the similarities and differences between them. Of course I always provide photos to help you, as well as to entertain you with a little eye candy. As you can see, picture books are my favorite form of reading.
Links to Pages on Southwestern Home Styles
See which SW home style is your favorite!
- Hispanic Adobe
- The original Southwestern style home. Down to earth (literally) and naturally energy efficient.
- Spanish Mission
- Reminiscent of the utilitarian style of early Missions built in the new world. Simple, inviting and homey.
- Pueblo or Santa Fe
- Originally the design favored by Native Americans, the Santa Fe is an adaptation created by the residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico. This style has become popular and has spread to locations throughout the Southwest.
- Spanish Colonial
- Mediterranean influence with a simple Southwestern flair.
- Mediterranean
- The flavor of the Mediterranean, but tempered with down-to-earth elements more typical of the Pueblo and Mission styles.
- Hacienda
- Think gracious Old Mexico charm with a fortress-like protection. Deep portals for relaxing in the heat of the day and thick, energy-efficient walls.
- Log Cabins
- Not a joke! The Rocky Mountains cut through the Southwest bringing cool breezes and tall pines. Homes high in the hills just naturally tend to be built of the natural materials available.
- Spanish Eclectic
- A mixture of the elements of Spanish styles to suite the desires and taste of the homeowner.
- Monterey Style
- Originating in Monterey, California, this Spanish style home has elements of both the Spanish as well as the English Colonial styles.
- Territorial Style
- Native American with features introduced by the Anglos in the nineteenth century.
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Southwestern Homes
Shelter in an Arid Landscape
Across America, homes take on many different forms. In the North, roofs are steep to allow snow to sheet and drop easily to the ground.In the Southwest, you find shallow pitched roofs, or even flat roofs.
Homes in many areas are built by first digging a basement. The basement is used to house coal for heat, hot water heaters, and often it is used as cold storage for farm produce.
Not so in the desert. At a first glance, the land appears hostile. This assumption holds true when attempting to dig the basement. The ground at the prospective site may be rocky, mixed with sandy soil, or it may simply be one huge rock. You may find caliche for a foundation of your home.
So the basement is normally not necessary to store coal, and is an impractical part of the structure due to the foundation material.
Thick walls, deep porches, and sheltering courtyards protect the home and its inhabitants from hostile heat during the day, and correspondingly cool nights.
These, and many other variations distinguish the Southwestern home from its sisters in cooler climes. Explore the homes of the Southwest, and see for yourself how different may not be undesirable. One of the Southwestern style homes may be just right for you.
by ccholley
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