THE SOUTHWESTERN SPANISH PUEBLO ARCHITECTURE BY JOSEPH EHLING

SPANISH PUEBLO Southwestern architecture is a very simple design. It uses local and natural materials such as dirt, mud, grass, stones and wood. It was influenced by the Indian and Spanish cultures that moved to the southwestern part of the country by New Mexico. When the Spanish saw the Indian villages in the 16 th century, they called these “Pueblos”. The mixture of the Indian and Spanish elements became known as the “Spanish Pueblo”.

THERE ARE MANY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS SOUTHWESTERN ARCHITECTURE.

EARTH COLORED STUCCO WALLS The color of the walls are like the color of the old adobe bricks used to build homes in this very dry part of the country. Adobe was made from mud mixed with clay and sand, shaped into bricks and dried in the hot sun. Now they use layers of cement over bricks and cover it with adobe colored paint.

ROUNDED CORNERS AT INTERSECTIONS

BRICK FLOORING Bricks are used for flooring as well as hardened earth. This is just another way they use available sources to build their homes.

ROWS OF VIGAS Vigas are beams that support the roof and also stick out of the outside walls. They can make the inside beautiful.

FLAT ROOFS Canales are spouts that drain water off flat roofs. The roofs can be slightly slanted so the water can get down to the ground.

CASEMENT WINDOWS THAT ARE USUALLY RECESSED In sunnier locations, having windows set back into the walls help block the sun. The sunshine is blocked by the walls on either side of the window. Porches, or portales, are also built to help shade the house.

EXPOSED HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS These supports are called lintels. Lintels are hand-carved wood that support windows, doors and any wall openings.

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