2013-03-22 - Taos, New Mexico

In March of 2013 I visited a friend in Taos. The trip was about experiencing the mystical landscapes of Northern New Mexico, and also to convince him to hire me to design him a home there. I was successful in one of those goals.

From my time living in Arizona and studying the mission architecture of the Spanish, I was eager to see similar buildings in this area, a part of New Mexico I had not previously visited. The simple and relatively unadorned structures, with their straightforward structural systems, have an appearance that almost appears as rustically modern, though they predate the Modern movement by many years. The San Francisco de Asis Church at Ranchos de Taos was built between 1772 and 1816. Modern buildings however sought lightness - both in terms of weight and illumination. However, I think massiveness and moodiness are underappreciated virtues. I love the shadows cast by the vigas and the drainage spouts, each acting as a sundial to animate the face of the buildings. Similar construction was used for Mabel Dodge Luhan's home. I love the outdoor wood fired horno (oven) and I can imagine how good the bread must have been!

Camera: Unknown Samsung Phone
Medium: Digital