NM’s Enchanting Architecture Gets National Attention (Albuquerque Journal)

August 1, 2017 by Kokopelli

Acoma Pueblo, (Courtesy of Kevin Flemming)

USA Today readers across the country had a chance to feast their eyes on New Mexico’s most iconic spots this spring thanks to a novel collaboration between the nationally read newspaper and the American Institute of Architects.

A feature story in USA Today’s travel section on May 10 touted vivid images of 25 sites emblematic of the state’s diverse cultural history. The story can be seen by going to www.usatoday.com and clicking on the “Travel” tab then search for “25 must-see buildings in New Mexico.”

[…]

The earliest example on the list is Chaco Canyon Cultural Historic National Park in northwestern New Mexico, which was designated in 1987 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. New Mexico’s Native American culture also comes across in images of Taos Pueblo, Bandelier National Monument, the Gila Cliff Dwellings near Silver City and Acoma Pueblo.

Churches feature prominently among the top tourism sites. There are photos of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, the oft-photographed massive adobe buttresses of the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in Ranchos de Taos, Santa Fe’s Loretto Chapel with its unusual spiral staircase and El Santuario de Chimayó, which draws thousands of pilgrims on foot each Holy Week.

In Albuquerque, the sites include the early 20th century BNSF Railyards, which symbolize the industrial age; the spaceship-like Bart Prince house near Nob Hill; and the 1932 John Gaw Meem-designed Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm in Los Ranchos.

The most recently built sites show off New Mexico’s affinities with the arts and the sciences: Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts near Ruidoso and the Santa Fe Opera House, both from 1997, and the Spaceport America Terminal Hangar Facility near Truth or Consequences, which was completed in 2014.

[…]

New Mexico Tourism Department spokeswoman Bailey Griffith said articles like this help raise awareness about what New Mexico has to offer travelers.

“Any time a story like this brings national attention to New Mexico, it’s a great thing. Architecture is a strong motivator for travel, with adobe being something uniquely New Mexican that sets us apart from our neighboring states,” Griffith said.

[Source: The Albuquerque Journal, “NM’s enchanting architecture gets national attention” by Rosalie Rayburn on July 1, 2017.]

What is a Kiva Fireplace?

July 24, 2014 by virtualdavis

Adobe Oasis, Master Bathroom (Photo: Peter Ogilvie)

Kiva fireplace in the Adobe Oasis master bedroom (Photo: Peter Ogilvie)

What is a kiva fireplace (aka “beehive fireplace”, “pueblo fireplace”, etc.) and why is it unique?

In my twenties I found something exotic and slightly intoxicating about all of the differences I encountered when I moved to Santa Fe from the Northeast. Adobe everything. Sunlight everyday. Food bliss. Ski bliss. Some of the most unusual, most interesting and most friendly people I’ve ever encountered… And lots of new words!

Vigas, Bancos, Nichos and Kiva Fireplaces

Living in Santa Fe, Spanish is part of every day life. (And Spanglish. Check out the entertaining “Growing Up Spanglish” series for a look at the incredibly common New Mexican mixing of English and Spanish.) But not just Spanish. For the first time in my life I began hearing native languages like Navajo being used on a regular basis. While that was exotic in and of itself, it was cross-language vocabulary borrowing that most fascinated me most. Mañana, arroyo, banco, chile, lunchear, vigas, penitentes, parquear, nicho, pueblo,..

One of the new words I discovered was kiva.

Origin The word kiva originally referred to a round underground meeting place used for religious rituals, spiritual ceremonies and other gatherings by male Pueblo Indians of the southwest… Kiva fireplaces trace their long history back to the 8th century. Kiva fireplaces were first used in the underground sacred chambers… These characteristically Southwestern home fixtures have evolved from simple holes in the ground to full-featured fireplaces, often known as “beehive fireplaces” due to their distinctive shape. (adapted/paraphrased from eHow)
Features The characteristic broad base of a kiva fireplace allows more heat to radiate around the bottom, making it more energy efficient. The narrow top allows fumes to exit out the upper flume opening. Conventional features of the kiva fireplace include nichos and bancos. A nicho is a recessed shelf cut out of an adobe wall. Small art objects, pictures or other decorative items can be displayed here. A banco is a bench built on one or both sides of the kiva fireplace. (eHow)

So there you have it. The kiva fireplace has become a signature design element in southwestern architecture. And while the iterations are diverse, form the most organic, flowing adobe mounds to the most geometric, modern reinterpretations, it quickly becomes easy to identify a kiva fireplace.

Known for its beehive appearance… Originally crafted from adobe, a Spanish term meaning mud bricks… Conventionally placed in the corner, a kiva’s adobe walls radiate heat and provide cozy warmth to a room. (eHow)

You can see in the photograph above of the master bedroom at Adobe Oasis that the corner situated kiva fireplace is clean and minimalist, offering a contemporary twist on the timeless tradition. A small, curved banco serves as hearth, and a smaller similarly curved shelf or “mantel” provides storage space while aeshteicially balancing the banco. This stepped design vernacular reappears throughout pueblo-inspired architecture.

Historic + Modern Vacation Rental in Santa Fe

December 3, 2013 by virtualdavis

Adobe Oasis, Living Room (Photo: Peter Ogilvie)

Historic + Modern Living Room (Photo: Peter Ogilvie)

Adobe Oasis’s ~~Historic Eastside property~~ (new location opening summer 2018!) offers authentic Santa Fe charm with century-old Pueblo Revival architecture and quintessential New Mexican design elements such as wood burning kiva fireplaces, viga ceilings, private courtyards with soothing fountains, and a traditional portal-covered patio.

Historic + Modern Vacation Rental

Totally renovated three times since 2008, Adobe Oasis is a modern vacation rental featuring lofty, natural light-filled rooms and an open floor plan with plenty of space for cooking, dining and entertaining. Luxurious green design (eco-friendly, nontoxic materials and furnishings) and user friendly amenities throughout the home pamper the most discriminating travelers.

Antique and contemporary décor mingle in a whimsical marriage of design and adventure. The owners offset original design+built furnishings (many commissioned by local Santa Fe artists and designers) and tastefully restored midcentury modern furniture with a meticulously curated collection of art and artifacts from all around the world.

Inside + Outside Santa Fe

Unwind in two enclosed, private outdoor areas with gardens, fountains, dining, lounging and grilling. The portals, patio, seamless inside/outside flow and lofty ceiling heights create an open, expansive feeling yet ensure your total privacy.

2013 Photo Gallery

September 5, 2013 by virtualdavis

Soothing fountain at Adobe Oasis in Santa Fe, NM.

Enjoy this photo gallery of Adobe Oasis before the redesign which will be completed in early 2014. Most of these images were taken in the late summer of 2013, just prior to the purchase of our Santa Fe dream home. New photographs will be posted over the coming months to document our green design improvements and top-to-bottom refurnishing.