First off: Here's a list of common Santa Fe Architectural Terms and their meanings!
Puebloan (1200-400 years or so ago)
There's just not any in town. There are several pueblos nearby but they aren't really open, unless you catch them on a feast or crafts show day.- Bandalier and Tsankawi (Almost always open, unless there's a fire, like now. Check ahead to be sure. A one hour drive from Santa Fe thru Los Alamos and SO worth it.
See cliff houses and a D-shaped early pueblo in one place. Tsankawi has a really magical quality if you are up for a short hike.
Spanish/Mexican (150-400 years or so ago)
- Pretty much anywhere you can walk. Look for: small+high windows, courtyard plazas.
- San Miguel Chapel
- Palace of the Governors (for context, more than anything, heavily modified)
- Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts (for context, also great American period architecture) and their outlier house
- Loretto Chapel
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
Thanks for the reminder Nicole Kleibert from Cornerstones Community Partnership! - Canyon Road, and El Zaguan at The Historic Santa Fe Foundation (also great American period architecture)
- Sena Plaza is a late period/early American period building. It is wonderful to meander around. Thanks for the reminder from architect pal Eric Haskins.
- Alto St. (especially between Defouri and Closson), "It’s part of a historic district – the road narrows to one lane with narrow sidewalks and the houses are on the road – if you wander that whole neighborhood you’ll find some pretty cool doors too!" - Nicole Kleibert from Cornerstones Community Partnership
American Period (Past 130 years or so ago)
- Territorial period architecture - all over town. Look for adobe buildings with trim around the windows and doors, sidelights, shutters, and porches. Look for double sash windows and brick copings.
- La Fonda on the Plaza, designed by Mary Colter and John Gaw Meem and restored by Barbara Felix Architecture + Design. Especially see their history window to the right of the main restaurant's entrance.
- New Mexico Museum of Art on the plaza catty-cornered to La Fonda
- Cristo Rey Church by John Gaw Meem Thanks for the tip Raffi Andonian!
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Thanks for the reminder Nicole Kleibert from Cornerstones Community Partnership!
- Santa Fe Scottish Rite Center
- Nedra Matteucci's Galleries, originally by Nicolas Woloshuk, expanded and augmented by Forrest Fenn. Thanks for the reminder from architect pal Eric Haskins.
- The International Museum of Folk Art's Girard exhibit for context, how modernism in exhibit design tells a very unique story of folk art. Also, see if you can find the piece of architecture that you will find a twin of at:
- The Compound Restaurant on Canyon Road interior, by Alexander Girard
- Lensic Theater
- East DeVargas Street behind the Supreme Court (look for Five Graces Inn)
- Santa Fe Opera's Crosby Theater by James Polshek
- Ricardo Legoretta at Santa Fe Art Institute
- Rivera Funeral Homes' Kiva Chapel of Light by Jon Dick of ArchaeoArchitecture
- MeowWolf
Outliers worth the trip
- Los Golondrinas has architecture from all over the state and every period and it's only a half- hour from town.
- Acoma Pueblo and the Sky City Cultural Center (1.5-2 hours drive. call to verify they are open.)
- Santo Domingo Trading Post (half hour drive)
- Tent Rocks (It's not architecture but sometimes I pretend it is! and the hike is awesome!)
- 10,000 Waves. Amazeballs Japanese baths - an oasis in the desert.
Hope this helps~!
♥ Rachel
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