Adobe: not just for Kokopelli fans

Having spent many a childhood Spring Break riding in the back of a van for 12-16 hours in order to reach the ski slopes of New Mexico and Colorado, I have fond associations with the adobe structures that often marked the end point of such an arduous journey. That said, they're not always considered the most modern or versatile in a design sense. The new book Living Homes: Sustainable Architecture and Design (Chronicle Books, $29.95), by Suzi McGregor and Nora Burba Trulsson, with photographs by Terrence Moore and an introduction by sustainable-design expert and Cradle to Cradle author William McDonough, may just change all that. The book's mission is to increase awareness of and inspire the exploration of some of the oldest (and most environmentally sound and efficient) building materials—adobe, rammed earth, straw bale, and recycled materials—and to show them in a variety of stylistic iterations. The 22 homes photographed for the book range from the traditional Nuevo Pueblo to the industrial/post-modern, and hit all kinds of points in between. Click through for some of my favorites.


Swan Residence, Presidio Texas, ADOBE
When I fantasize about moving to the desert (which happens often), it is to live in a room like this. My heart actually slows down (in a good way) when I look at this photo. The homeowner trained with an Egyptian architect known for his work with vernacular housing, then designed the structure using principles she learned from him. The vaulted ceiling is a response to the scarcity of suitable wood for roofing timber in Egypt (although it needs no excuse here, beyond being beautiful). Window openings are used sparingly but well, to minimize heat transfer while still providing the natural light that plays so well off the building materials.





Wiggins-Logan Residence, Longmont Colorado, ADOBE
Here we see a different version of a curved roof—this one's purpose being to echo the rolling hills of the surrounding landscape, and to create the feeling of more space without adding more square footage on the ground. It's made of low-upkeep corrugated sheet metal, insulated with cellulose. The homeowners used double adobe for the structure's exterior walls and rammed earth—a great soundproofer—for the interior walls. The counters, floors, and cabinets are all made of regional timber. The house is oriented to make maximum use of solar energy, with large, South-facing windows and solar panels that power the radiant floor heating.





Bennett Residence, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, STRAW BALE
Shiny galvanized roofing, exposed wooden beams, and iron-oxide-tinted stucco-covered straw bale walls work together in an unexpectedly good way in this mountain home (also seen in the bottom photo). Essentially an agricultural waste product, straw bales are also great insulators, which comes in handy when the temperature dips down to twenty below. Michael McGuire, the architect who worked closely with the homeowners on this project, employed Frank Lloyd Wright's "hemicycle" design, which make strategic use of the sun's passage across the sky, heating different rooms in succession, starting with the master bedroom.

Weekend Retreat, San Antonio, Texas, REINVENTED, RECYCLED, AND HIGH-TECH MATERIALS
The clients who commissioned this 1,000-square-foot shack directed the architects to create a retreat that "if left unattended would disappear into the landscape within one hundred years." The result consists of very little more than what you see here, and the owners couldn't be happier. Essentially, it's a curved limestone wall (in a naturally limestone-rich area) flanked by a simple sleeping nook, topped by a native cedar and sheet metal roof, and finished with lots and lots of screening. The small bathroom is an outdoor, composting affair, and there is no electricity.

Hunt Residence, Napa, California, REINVENTED, RECYCLED, AND HIGH-TECH MATERIALS
Architect Craig Henritzy created four sloping levels for this rounded house, to work with the hill on which the home is sited. The construction is mostly of Rastra, a blend of cement and recycled polystyrene (like you'd find in fast food containers); it's easy to work with and also fireproof. A solar calendar is set into the living room's concrete floor, and the house's plan assures that the low-angled winter sun warms the structure's concrete floors, but the high summer sun is shielded by roof overhangs. A number of nooks staged throughout the home assure that no matter where the sun is, there's always a good place to sit and bask.


Gratuitous cute dog photo, Bennett Residence































One of the most interesting issues touched upon in the book, to me, anyway, is that these centuries-old building techniques and materials have ended up being as good as, if not better, than many of our modern industrial options, in terns of efficiency and cost. Beyond that, in many cases, they even make it possible for ordinary people to be physically involved in the construction of their homes—something that was once almost universal and today is virtually unheard of. What do you think? Would you get a feeling of satisfaction from knowing you'd helped build the walls of your family's home? Or would you rather just open your eyes and have the whole thing be finished?

Related links on Shine:
Real Homes, Real Inspiration: Nightwood
Wood House in Ranon
Slide Show: The Long Lean-To
Slide Show: Ecuadorian X House
Slide Show: Croatian Renovation
Slide Show: Decker Down House