HouseSanta Fe (United States)

Unique custom-built home, workshop and studio set amid the wooded peaks of Hyde Park Estates with sweeping vistas of the Jemez Mountains. Two structures connected by a breeze-way were designed with a focus on construction integrity, fire resistance, and efficiency, including both passive and active solar elements and minimal electricity costs. One building serves as the living quarters, while the other has been used as a studio/casita with ample storage and a full bath on the main level and wood-working shop below. High, cork-covered ceilings in the residence create a lofty, open feeling and enhance the acoustics. None of the interior walls are load-bearing so that changes can be easily made. Two bedrooms and a secondary living area are located on the lower level which allows for the upper living area to be warm in the winter while the bedrooms remain cool. The primary bathroom enjoys a sauna, soaking tub, walk-in shower, and large walk-in closet. Decks surround the structures, providing expansive views of the Rio Grande valley, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe. Natural light abounds from many windows, skylights and original stained-glass works of art. An interior greenhouse provides passive solar gain and the ability to grow plants year round. Exterior garden space with grapevines on their way to maturity, a 1000 gallon water collection tank, and a small pond with waterfall are additional enhancements.