The Small Adobe HouseBuilding or remodeling an adobe house is an artistic endeavor, with all the satisfaction--and occasional frustration--of any artistic effort. But once you've lived sheltered by adobe wall, you won't want anything else. Whether the small adobe house is a work of art or a model of simplicity, it is by far the most appropriate house for the Southwest. The adobe serves as natural insulatio, keeping the interior cool in summer and warm in winter, and muffling noise. No draft ever penetrates an adobe wall. The spaces of such a house accept with equal grace the basic curve of an Eames chair or the sumptuous gilding of Louis XIV. It is an easy house to live in. It is also easy to reshape. You may incorporate all sorts of modern ideas and still keep the classic look of the small adobe house, affording enjoyment of the newest conveniences within an enveloping tradition. The final word on the small adobe house is that it combines the best of several elements: comfort, adaptability, tradition, and almost limitless possibilities for expansion and personal expression. Agnesa Reeve, a historian, is past president of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation. Her writings about southwestern architecture and cuisine have been published in journals, and her books include From Hacienda to Bungalow (UNM Press, 1988) and Cooking with a Handful of Ingredients (Cimarron Press, 1993). She lives in Santa Fe. Robert Reck is a contributing photographer to Architectural Digest and has been published in most of the major architectural journals worldwide, including Architecture, Architectural Record, A+U, and Hauser. He was the lead photographer for the book Santa Fe Style and has significantly contributed to the monographs of many preeminent architects, including Antoine Predock and Robert A. M. Stern. |
