IN HIS TOME “THE CITY IN HISTORY” BY LEWIS MUMFORD, HE IMAGES A PREHISTORIC ERA WHERE BUILDING ARE CARVED FROM THE LANDSCAPE, BUILDINGS THAT FOLLOW THE NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERNS FORMED BY INCOMPREHENSIBLE TIME ITSELF. CLAY POTS, THE RESULTING FORMS FROM THE EROSION OF TIME, REPRESENT THE HOUSE ITSELF, THE REFUGE, THE CAVE, THE GROTTO.

WITH THIS HOUSE, THE PLAN RELIES ON THE ARC OF TIME - A STONE WALL- THAT STARTS AT AN EXISITNG SITE BOULDER AND ENDS AT A GROTTO. THE TRICKLE OF WATER- AN INTERIOR ACEQUIA- NOW QUIET AFTER A MILLENIA, LEAVES THIS CARVED BEAUTY TO EXPLORE.

DESIGNED FOR SOIREES, THE ENTRY IS MARKED WITH A COY POND AND A LINEAR ACEQUIA THAT CONTINUES INTO AN ENTRY FOYER DESIGNED FOR THE DISPLAY OF ART. THE ENTRY FOYER TRANSECTS A CIRCULAR LIVING ROOM FORM, MARKING THE CONVIVIAL PLACE OF GATHERINGS. A SPATIAL TRANSITION FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE IS LOCATED AT OTHER END OF THE ENTRY FOYER, AND DESIGNED AS A GROTTO.

STANDING ASIDE THE GARAGE IS A TWO BEDROOM GUEST HOUSE. INFLECTION OF PLAN AND DETAILING IS USED THROUGHOUT THIS THEMATIC HOUSE TO GREAT EFFECT. A SIMPLE PALETTE OF STONE AND PLASTER, WATER AND LIGHT, VOICE AND FRIENDSHIP, ALL CONJOIN TO SIGNIFY HOME.

1999 AIA SANTA FE MERIT AWARD