Sombra de Santa Fe

At Sombra de Santa Fe, a unique blend of light, shadow, lava, and sky coalesces to form a striking, solid mass. This enigmatic shape, reminiscent of the region’s rich architectural past, stands out against the backdrop of a dynamic sky, the surrounding scrub forest, and the soft grass underfoot, creating a scene that is both familiar and awe-inspiring.

Perched on a mesa overlooking the Galisteo Basin, 360 degree views reveal landmarks in the horizon that tell the story of time and passage: the high plains of the Llano Estacado to the east, Sangre de Cristo mountains to the north, Sandia mountains to the southwest, Jemez Mountains to the northwest.

Held by an established Juniper on the east, a portal punctuates the mass, inviting one into its depth and darkness. Upon entering the shadowy void, the view telescopes through the house and into a corridor of time and light leading to the Sala of the house, which frames viewsheds in every direction and reveals moments specific to each cardinal direction in the varying layers of the desert landscape visible beyond.

The home is constructed of 2-foot thick cast black Scoria (pulverized lava) walls, arranged and carved in response to the sun and wind, creating a series of spaces that become specific in use depending on the ever-changing site conditions.

Shimmering blue and gold light reflect upon the walls, shifting shadows obscure reality, the boundary between home, art, and landscape dissolves, and the desert landscape lingers and resonates in the perceptions, thoughts, ideologies, lifestyle and creative acts of the home’s inhabitants.