LOOKING INITIALLY TO THE WORK OF MEXICAN ARCHITECT, LUIS BARRAGAN AND HIS CUADRA SAN CRISTOBAL RANCH HOME, THIS HOME DESIGN FINDS ITS PLACE IN NEW MEXICO, YET MUCH OF THE CONCEPTURAL WORK OF BARRAGAN’S INSPIRATION REMAINS.

THE SPACIOUS BUILDING PROGRAM INCLUDES A MAIN AND GUEST HOUSE, BARN AND GARAGE. INITIALLY, A SHARED COURTYARD BETWEEN HOUSES WAS ENVISIONED AS A PLACE FOR HORSES TO WATER AND A MULTI-CAR GARAGE AND TACK ROOM ARE DESIGNED AS A STABLE. AS THE HOUSE DESIGN DEVELOPED, THE INTIAL IDEA WAS OVERLAYED WITH AN ECCLESIASTICAL MEANING, AND THE MASSING OF THE HOUSE WAS THUSLY MODIFIED TO INCLUDE A BELL TOWER, A CLOISTERED BEDROOM WING SURROUNDING A COURTYARD AND A WALKING LABYRINTH. THE ROOF OF THE CLOISTERED BEDDROOM WING IS DESIGNED AS AN ELEVATED PLAZA, WHICH VISUALLY CONCEALS THE ROOFING DETAILS BELOW ITS CONCRETE PAVER ROOFDECK.

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE HOMES AND GARAGE IS SHAPED TO REFLECT THE HIGH DESERT AREA AND FIT WITHIN A SLOPING TERRAIN. SPECTAULAR VIEWS OF THE SANGRE DE CHRISTO AND JEMEZ MOUNTAINS ARE SHARED FROM EACH HOUSE, WHICH SHIFT PLAN NORTH AND SOUTH, OPENING THE VIEWS FROM EACH TO THE SPECTACULAR NEW MEXICO VISTAS BEYOND.

2002 AIA SANTA FE MERIT AWARD