Renaissance of the Town of Santa Fe

Traditional adobe architecture is alive and well in New Mexico, particularly near the state capital, Santa Fe. Here, graceful Pueblo-style buildings dominate the skyline with sharp, straight lines and right angles, solid brown exteriors and roofs. blueprints. It’s part of what drives Santa Fe’s thriving tourism economy, and part of the reason local real estate is in constant demand from buyers across the country. Anyone getting involved in the Santa Fe area real estate market should consider reviewing this popular form of construction before buying or selling.

The characteristic architectural style of Santa Fe is called Pueblo Revival style. Although it first appeared in Ventura, California in AC Schwinfurth commercial buildings in the 1890s, Pueblo Revival soon became popular in New Mexico, and now appears almost exclusively here. In the early 1900s, Pueblo Revival was the logical choice for local governments to promote a unified building style and help Santa Fe make a name for itself. At the time, Santa Fe was in economic decline following the loss of a major railroad and the closure of nearby Fort Marcy by the federal government. The Pueblo Revival style helped the city change gears and become a major center in the Southwest for tourism and the arts. Based largely on ancient and centuries-old building techniques from the Southwest, Pueblo Revival fit naturally here, and soon became synonymous with the Santa Fe name.

The first Pueblo Revival-style buildings in New Mexico were Hodgin Hall at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and the Palace of Governors in Santa Fe. After New Mexico was granted statehood in 1912, Pueblo Revival became standard in Santa Fe, reaching its greatest popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, and received legal backing in 1957 by the Santa Fe Historic Zoning Ordinance, which mandated the use of traditional styles in all new buildings downtown from the city. With the ordinance still in effect, Pueblo Revival continues to define the look of downtown Santa Fe and many residential neighborhoods throughout the area.

While Pueblo Revival relies on the appearance of adobe, many buildings constructed in the style use brick or concrete supplemented with uneven parapets, rounded corners, and thick battered walls to simulate traditional construction. Many Pueblo Revival buildings also feature wooden ceiling beams that project from the exterior walls.