Architectural Styles & Terms

Santa Fe’s architecture, street names and style are largely informed by its Hispanic history. Here is a list of common words you should know:

Adobe
A stabilized mud brick that is dried in the sun or kiln, an ancient building material.

Banco
A bench fashioned with adobe plaster.

Canale
A roof spout that carries water off a flat pueblo-style roof.

Casa
Spanish for “home”. Mi casa es tú casa.

Coping
Decorative detail on the top edge of a building and around doors and windows.

Corbel
Short sculpted beam lying on top of a post or wall.

Farolito
“Little Lantern,’” a paper bag with a sand ballast and candle. Typical Christmas decoration. Referred to as a luminaria outside of Santa Fe.

Flagstone
Flat sheets of stone typically used for paving patios and indoor flooring.

Hacienda
An estate, the term originating in land grants to Conquistadores.

Horno
Freestanding adobe bread oven, usually placed outside near the home.

Kiva
A small beehive-shaped fireplace. The word derives from the Tewa (language of the Pueblo people of Taos area) word for an underground round house normally used for religious practice.

Latillas
Small branches used as ceiling planking, made of Aspen, pine or cedar.

Luminaria
See Farolito.

Nicho
Small shelf carved into a wall.

Paseo
Passage or walkway, or “to promenade.”

Portal
Patio attached to a home, covered with a fixed roof supported by posts.

Puerta
“Door” in Spanish.

Rumford Fireplace
Tall, shallow fireplace known for great efficiency.

Saltillo Tile
Simple fired earthen tile made in Saltillo, Mexico.

Stucco
Final cement color coat plastered in the exterior of an adobe-style building.

Talavera Tile
Colorful hand-decorated Mexican tile used for counter tops and trim.

Ventana
`Window” in Spanish.

Vigas
Round logs used as ceiling beams, either shaved or raw.

Other Typical Santa Fe Terms

Alameda
A road bordered by cottonwoods. Spanish for “Cottonwood.”

Acequia
Man-made irrigation ditch introduced by early Spanish settlers. Who’s in charge? El Majordomo.

Arroyo
Dry riverbed that fills occasionally with water from rain or watershed water release.

Bosque
The forest. Mostly referring to low-lying forests around rivers densely forested with cottonwoods and other deciduous trees.

Calle
“Street” in Spanish

Camino
“Road” in Spanish.

Cañon/Cañoncito
“Canyon/Little Canyon” in Spanish

Juniper Tree
High-desert evergreen. Juniper berries = Gin thanks to the Brits.

La Fonda
“The Hotel” in Spanish.

La Posada
“The Inn” in Spanish. From “reposada” or reposed.

Mesa
Flattop mountain called “a table” in Spanish.

Pueblo
“People”, literally, refers to Northern New Mexico’s Native American tribes, and their historic communities of adobe structures

Piñon Tree
High-desert nut-bearing evergreen tree. Pesto just isn’t pesto without the piñon nut.

Plaza
Public square in the center of town, site of traditional evening paseo or “promenade.”