Tano Vida Residence

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The clients for this residence had lived and traveled extensively in France before settling in Santa Fe. When moving here, they were struck by the similarities of regional architecture in both locations. The obvious similarities were the thick masonry and adobe walls, use of natural materials and the recessed door and window openings. The one difference was the use of interior courtyards in New Mexico.

They acknowledged that creating an old French Farmhouse in New Mexico was inappropriate and so we began to fashion the residence around an internal courtyard. The thick walls were constructed of adobe and finished with hand troweled plaster. This gave the home its warmth and natural, earthy feel that they had loved in rural France. In the center of the courtyard we planted a large Chestnut tree in homage to their time in France.