Santa Fe is a place like no other and she offers a unique Architectural Style and Vocabulary that are not found in other areas of the country.  We offer the following page to help familiarize you with some of the descriptive terms you will hear as you enjoy the idea of home ownership in the "City Different"!

Adobe - Bricks traditionally dried in the sun comprised of soil, straw, and other ingredients.

Banco - A bench covered by plaster or stucco often adjoining a kiva fireplace.

Canales - A spout extending beyond the exterior wall from the roof to drain water from the roof.

Casita - A small house, often a guest house.

Corbel - A wooden support between posts or beams, often carved or cut in a decorative fashion.

Coved Ceiling -  Plaster applied between ceiling vigas to create an arch shape.

Coyote Fence - Branches wired together to create a fence.  Rustic appearance.

Horno - An outdoor oven shaped like a beehive, used to bake bread.

Kiva - A fireplace in which logs are usually placed vertically, sculpted of brick or adobe and  plastered.

Latilla - Branches of native woods typically shaved of bark placed above vigas or beams in ceiling.

Lintel - Exposed beam above windows, doors, or gates.

Nicho - An inset sculpted in the wall creating an area for display of artwork or pottery.

Northern New Mexico - Adobe type architecture with a pitched roof, normally metal.  

Piñon - The state tree, abundant in the Santa Fe area.  An evergreen pine that grows slowly and bears nuts in the fall.

Portal - A covered porch or patio often with viga supports.

Pueblo Style - Adobe styled building with rounded corners and viga accents.

Ristra - A string of chilis or garlic traditionally found in New Mexican kitchens.  Now used as decorations as well.

Saltillo Tile - Square earthen tiles popular in Northern New Mexico for flooring.

Territorial Style - Traditionally adobe construction with a more square appearance than Pueblo Style.  A coping at the top of the structure is typically brick and the portal usually has square beam supports rather than viga supports, and the windows are more formal.

Viga - The trunk of a tree typically pine or spruce which has been peeled.  Used vertically as a support or horizontally supporting a roof.