Sage House
Taos, New Mexico
2006/2008

The Des Montes plain stretches westward from the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A grey-green blanket of sage foregrounds near and distant peaks. Anchored within this unobstructed panorama, the Sage House organizes formal and programmatic elements along a simple arc that directs the experience of the house outwards.  A sloping roof, punctuated with zones of trellis, parallels the slope of the land, alternatively compressing space to focus views out or to define an internal volumetric condition. The courtyard is sheltered from prevailing southwestern winds with walls, orchard and an earth berm that completes the inscribing arc.

Approach to the house is along an east-west axis aligned with Vallecito Peak. The entry drive transitions to an auto court bound by a courtyard wall to the south, to the east by a glass link connecting the service entry to the kitchen, and to the north by the garage/service/storage spaces embedded in the adjacent existing grade.

The trellis-shaded entry sequence begins through a gated opening at the end of the courtyard wall. Passage into a landscaped courtyard leads to the east entry which is aligned with the winter solstice sunrise.  The major spaces in the house are organized with sliding glass doors accessing a series of protected interstitial outdoor spaces.

The kitchen and dining room are spatially adjacent but separated by an informal dining counter with a three-sided fireplace at one end. A stair wraps the double height kitchen space leading to a loft and an upper terrace with outdoor fireplace. The covered dining terrace spills out from the dining room under a lowered portion of the arcing roof. A steel trellis defines a more informal patio space next to the service entry glass link.

The bedroom wing escapes the trajectory of the arc aiming south toward the Truchas Peaks.  The master suite is arranged perpendicular to three children’s bedrooms and is entered along a private courtyard aimed toward mountain views. The bedroom mass steps down following the natural topography separating it from spaces organized under the sloping arced roof.

The materials are plaster/stucco and metal with exposed concrete floors and fireplace and maple casework.

In association with executive architect Jon Anderson.