Concept: An L shaped “large room” accommodates the living, dining and kitchen areas and dominates the house. The remaining spaces are subordinate, as shown by their lower volumes and roof pitch.
To differentiate between the public social spaces and less important functions found within, the latter are treated as space-within-space, and housed in small, freestanding structures. The shape of the large room then still reads clearly.
The house was rotated towards the southeast in response to climatic conditions and view. Placing the garage to the north allowed it to buffer the cold winds winter winds. It was also semiinterred to allow the north-westernly frigid winds to sweep over the roof. Thicker frame walls permitted additional insulation. Hydronic radiant heating was installed under the brick and stone floors. Cooling is achieved through natural ventilation and fans. In the bedroom spaces, the ceilings are lowered to reduce heat loss and create a sense of intimacy.

Site: Nestled among piñon covered hills in the southeast of the city, it has long views to the valley and to the city lights below. The large, fiveacre parcel has sandy soil, piñones and pines, and a large arroyo along the west side.

Construction: Utilizing a northern New Mexico regional vocabulary of stuccoed walls, metal roofs, exposed timbers, and masonry floors, with a contemporary interpretation., This 2,000 sf home was completed at a cost of $175,000 in 1989. A detached 1,200 sf guesthouse was later built in 1993 that create a formal bricked patio with a large swimming pool. A later addition to the main house, which added two bedrooms, was completed in 1997.