Adobe Homes In Taos, New Mexico - Building From The Earth, For The Earth

One of the best footprints of the Southwest heritage is a simple one

, cast by an element of the earth itself: adobe. One looks at its simple elegance and will be reminded of the hogans of the Navajo, the domed lodges of the Havasupai or the simple rectangular huts of the mysterious Yaqui.

But this is no carbon footprint. The modern-day builders of Taos, New Mexico are learning that not only is adobe very "green," it is a footprint that saves money, benefits rich and poor alike and, with some modern improvements, can be shaped to accommodate a wide range of architectural styles. Best of all, it lasts hundreds of years. A perfect example would be the Bam Citadel in Iran, which was believed to be the largest adobe building in the world. Until an earthquake destroyed it on Dec. 26, 2003, this imposing structure was located along the Silk Road, built before 500 BC, and remained in use until 1850 AD.

Developers building homes in Taos may not be attempting to construct a record-breaking citadel, but they are among those leading the way to increasing the use of this material that has been used to provide shelter since Neolithic times. This is not surprising. Taos has been called the Solar Capital of the Planet, boasting such solar-powered, non-environmentally invasive structures as Earthships built entirely of recycled materials.

The original inhabitants of the region that includes Taos Pueblo and Ranchos de Taos were nomadic hunter-gatherers. Europeans arrived, time marched on and the demographics became more eclectic. Today the area is rich in Anglo, Spanish and Native American culture. According to the website of the Taos Chamber of Commerce, there are 45 art galleries and nine museums. In October there is the annual Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, and all year long Ghost Ranch offers the tourist either the rock walls of its Abiquiu location where artist Georgia O'Keefe painted or its retreat in Santa Fe.

Adobe is a mix of sand, soil and water, so the process of constructing such buildings is uncomplicated and inexpensive. The Spanish decided it would be a good idea to make this material into bricks. The Spanish also introduced very energy-efficient curved fireplaces built in corners instead of along the straight-and-narrow of walls.

The size of the original homes was determined by the length of the ceiling beams or vigas. Cedar poles or latillas made it possible to lay the flat earthen roof. One of the most critical components was something called a canale (canal) because this directed water through a parapet off the rooftop and away from the structure. Since adobe bricks were fragile, too much moisture would lead to decay.

Back in that day, the walls had to be very thick; the nature of the materials and the need to maintain a comfortable inside temperature did not allow for very many windows.The innovations of contemporary builders, however, have adapted adobe to endure the vagaries of Mother Nature and they have found ways to remove the need for the thick walls.

But they have also been careful to preserve the designs of those long-ago hunter-gatherers.

by: Stephen Daniels

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