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A City Different:A Visual Guide to the Architecture of Santa Fe

Been There Done That· Travel Tips

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santa fe architecture

When cultures collide, it often creates wars and upheaval, but in the case of Santa Fe it also created a pocket of distinctive architecture. As the influences of Spanish colonization, American West, and Native Americans melded culturally, they created a unique aesthetic that can't be seen anywhere else in the country. It is no wonder that Santa Fe is known as The City Different, and although the look of the architecture is easily recognizable, some of the terms and language may be foreign. Use  this visual dictionary and glossary of terms to feel at home while wandering the delightfully multicultural streets of Santa Fe.

A Visual Dictionary of Architectural Terms in Santa Fe

sun dried brick made of straw and clay shown here on the oldest hours in the United States

a built in bench or seating area covered in plaster usually attached to a low wall or window or next to a fireplace

large wooden brackets that support ceiling beans, often carved to be both functional and decorative

a circular fireplace built into the corner of a room, reminiscent of the round ceremonial rooms of pueblos, often have an attached banco

slender saplings that are stripped of their bark and laid across the ceiling beams to create a horizontal or diagonal pattern

a recessed wall nich, usually arch or rectangular shaped used to hold religious icons, sculptures or other art elements

an attached porch comprised of posts with corbels and beams shown here is the portal of the New Mexico Museum of Art

an arrangement of drying chill peppers used for preservation and decoration

large, 6 to 12 inch round beams that are regularly spaced across the ceiling of a room and extend beyong the exterior of the building

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