Since we're on about houses and the aesthetics there of. I'm wondering what you all think about this...
As hubby and I are searching for houses out here in Santa Fe and as we talk with the architect we've found we are thinking more and more about the 'santa fe style' and it's deeply entrenched ubiquity out here. I absolutely positively CANNOT live with the interior elements. Low ceilings, heavy beams, rounded corners, saltillo tiles and tacky pseudo Native American and Conquistedorian accents.
But...the exterior forms really aren't all that awful. At least sometimes. I've seen adobe homes that really echo a flat-roofed mid-century home a'la Eichler and Neutra. Or maybe these homes echo the much older adobe forms. In any case, these humble shapes do really look right out here in the high desert landscape.
So, I've been thinking, maybe we find a home that meets our expectations for location and general size and then rework it to the interior that we want. Remodeling is really far more 'green' than starting from scratch. Most homes here are already fairly well sited on the land to take advantage of sun/wind effects. Therefore, it will be 'doable' to make many of them into the efficient, naturally conditioned space I'm hoping for.
What say you? Can two avowed modernists live happily ever after in an adobe gone mod? Or will I alway yearn for the clean rectilinear lines a'la Pierre Konig's glass Case Study masterpiece?
True, but...
that house was anew construction that was done in in a modernist style that blends in withthe local forms. But what if I started with an existing, typical adobe? Like this one:
http://www.stoneridgerealty.net/content/listdetail.html/74701667?proppos...
I love those adobe homes...
I love those adobe homes I own one .
We bought for my wife a 1915 adobe home in Tulsa Okla that she uses for her design studio.
That is what got me into collecting modern furniture, I refused to furnish it with the southwest crap furniture and that is when we decided to do modern . and it turned out to be a great look.
The low ceiling with beams can be attractive with your modern furniture, and the kiva fireplace great!! don't be afraid of getting one of those homes cause i know you can make it cool with all your great furniture. you will be so surprised how much it take on a life of its own.
I love Santa Fe and we use to go twice a year the only thing i got a little tired of 50 shades of Brown on all of the homes. but it is dictated by the historical society of Santa Fe. so make it your own on the inside.
It could totally work. I...
It could totally work. I actually like that better than a modern structure trying to be something it isn't (santa fe style). The real ones (like this) are very neutral and simple with nice materials. I don't care for the loud color palette of the others. Go for it!!!!!
I actually have a great book "One Hundred Houses for one hundred architects" or something like that. There is one like this with a modernist bent. It works very well.
I would say keep the furnishings organic for the most part .... employ a lot of wood and vintage with patina if possible. ... Eames plywood, Maathsson, Aalto, Thonet .... with rugs that match the architectural style....
I would steer from the Asian inspired style you like. The style of the architecture and international furniture should be enough.
It could be very unique and beautiful and unexpected.
Thanks, guys, you've inspired me!
Hearing two hard and fast modernists tell me that they think it would work is encouraging. I am, as you may have guessed, a bit overwhelmed trying to make a smart choice for us. Right now there are a ton of things on the market out here, but so many of them are that ticky-tacky SW-style, that I just can't stomach. However, we have seen a few with a pseudo modernist interiors that has set us to thinking it could work. And actually, whitespike, one house had a lot of asian stuff and it looked pretty nice to me. there's also a japanese spa called 10,000 waves out here that lookes so at home on the New Mexican hillside.
Thanks, I'm feeling hopeful now!
LRF, bummer but no pix 🙁
http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/
Yeah, 10K waves is to die for
Hubby gave me a BIG gift certificate for xmas. I used it today. Hot stone massage, a hot steamy soak in a ofuro and a facial. I feel like a million bucks.
Geronimo's, oh groan, moan, ecstacy. That is one of the best meals I have ever eaten. Went there last year for our anniversary. It was incredible. But you can't get a bad meal in this town. Period. even the pizza joints are awesome. Ever try BobCat Bite for a green chili cheese burger? That's another little bit of heaven!
My two cents
I think that modern is a rational approach to problem solving, not just a cliche aesthetic. While I love everything from the Bauhaus, to International Modern, Googie architecture, to contemporary design, I think that a home should be a honest reflection of the environment where it is built and the needs of the people inhabiting it. If in your area adobe construction is the most reasoned approach, I would not be afraid of the appearance simply because there is so much bad vernacular design with an affected "Southwest" aesthetic. If you can find an existing property that is well built, well sited and with a little tweaking could make a happy home for you and yours, I think that is a very environmentally responsible choice. Our own home is 100% recycled. It's a vintage house filled with vintage furnishings. The only new things we buy are groceries and maybe sometimes clothes (thrift stores are spilling over with perfectly fine, barely used clothes). Other than the computer, even our electronics are vintage or second hand. We even listen to records more than CDs.
While I'm rambling... I'd hate to see a "Southwest adobe on the outside/ high modern on the inside" kind of approach. It's like an architect who makes a traditional facade for a very modern home in order to meet association standards. I think it's dishonest and silly. I think the appearance of a successful design reflects its construction and its use. That does not mean that you can not furnish a traditional home with modern furniture. I think that good design transcends eras/ "styles" and fashions. But if you are going to live in an adobe home, I'd suggest embracing that. That doesn't mean you need loads of navaho blankets and kachina dolls all over the place, just don't try to disguise what it is. If it works for you and your environment, it's successful.
I've wondered why adobe construction today needs to have the soft edges and heavy timbers of an old hand-built home. Why couldn't a contemporary building in that climate still have thick walls and the other features of that kind of construction but have nice crisp corners, or a white exterior? If there are valid reasons to build that way, why can't one update, or make more relevant that manner of building?
Just my thoughts, take them for what they are worth.
pegboard modern
If you ever make it to Santa Fe you will see what a whole community of of Southwest Adobe looks like, it is truly amazing and does make the residents somewhat Jaded as it could be hard to distinguish what is in the outside world. The Shopping Centers the local buildings, the state buildings all are of the Southwest Adobe, motif.
So it would be most difficult to embrace anything on the exterior other than Southwest Adobe, That is why I would make it as modern as one could go on the inside.
So for 12 hours a day your eyes can relax and not have to see 50 shades of Brown.
I love this community and town, it is the closest thing in the United States to a 100 %planned community, and they are very proud of it. It just feels good sometimes to be the individual in the neighborhood.They are one of the art capitals of the world, and have all kinds of great stuff all over.
And the kicker is it IS indeed 'planned'!
In the 1030's Santa Fe made a conscious effort to create a tourist destination out of itself and adobe-ized everything and set a firm SFe style in place. Many of the older buildings here are actually whatyou would have expected for a late 19th century western town. they were somewhat victorian in style originally and were later stuffed into the pueblo adobe format.
I actually agree with you, PegBoardModern. I want a home that is as best suited for its environment as I can possibly make it. The question in my head at the moment is what is that home truly like. Stay withthe accepted forms or breakout and do something that takes advantage of all the new developments in technology since the Pueblos first built their Hogans!
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