GREAT ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS HAVE AT THEIR CORE, CREATIVE PEOPLE THAT DREAM BIG. THIS HOUSE STARTED AS A CLEINT WISH: “WE WANT TO LIVE LIKE WE ARE ON VACATION, IN SOME GRANDE HOTEL”. THIS STATEMENT SET IN MOTION A DESIGN EXPLORATION OUTSIDE THE NORMAL SANTA FE STYLE DESIGN APPROACH, WITH AN INVITATION TO EXPLORE THE PLAN LAYOUT WITH THE NEW CONCEPTUAL LENS OF ENTRY, LOBBY, GUEST SUITES, AND PLACES FOR PERSONAL RECREATION.

WHILE THE PROGRAM SUGGESTS INVENTION, THE REALITY OF THE PROJECT HAS ITS FEET IN WORLDLY CONSTRAINTS, AN EXISITNG HOME IN DISREPAIR, HISTORIC STYLE CONTROLS, AND A LIMITED BUDGET. IT WAS DETERMINED TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING HOUSE BUT RETAIN ITS FOUNDATION SYSTEM, SAVING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND VALUABLE CONSTRUCTION TIME. THE NEW HOUSE SPRINGS FORTH FROM THIS FOOTPRINT, AND IS DESIGNED AS A SERIES OF BUILDINGS PUNCTUATED BY COURTAYRDS OF VARYING SIZES. THE NEW STREET FASCADE IS MORE PRIVATE WITH ENCLOSING YARD WALLS. A NOTABLE ENTRY IS LOGICALLY PLACED BETWEEN BUILDINGS, AND A NEW GUEST HOUSE ENTRY FORMED. THE REAR YARD IS A PRIVATE RETREAT AND OPENS DIRECTLY OFF THE GREAT ROOM “HOTEL LOUNGE”. THE INTREGRATION OF EASTERN BEAM WORK IN THE CEILINGS MARRIES WELL WITH THE POST AND BEAM STYLE OF THE SOUTHWEST, FOR A MODERN LOOK AT TIMELESS MATERIALS ARRANGED TO CAPTURE A PERMANENT FEELING OF ESCAPE.

2004 AIA SANTA FE MERIT AWARD