1. A traditional single-level home surrounding an inside courtyard is the mainstay of Spanish Colonial architecture. It will also have windows with ornamental ironwork, a narrow, long porch, and a wrought iron front door. This specific style also will feature a flat roof with a parapet wall which is above the roof.
2. Pueblo Revival, or Pueblo Architecture is a mixture of Spanish Colonial and Spanish Mission Style that features earth tone adobe exterior with vigas. These rough logs are the roof's support system and are usually shown on the outside wall. Pueblo dwellings also feature round corners, flat roofs, and brick floors.
3. Mission Revival came from the ever popular Spanish Mission style. Early Spaniards took with them Jesuits and Franciscans to try to save local natives. They built presidios which also included a fort for soldiers to use and elaborate designed missions. The lovely housefronts included curved gables, sweeping arches, and covered, exterior porches.
4. Territorial style is commonly known for strong lines and rows of brick up on top of the walls. People often associate this style with New Mexico because it became popular here between 1850-almost 1900. This style can today be located throughout the Southwest. It is a mixture of Victorian and the traditional Pueblo style due to the settlers to New Mexico bringing their tastes with them from the east. Other popular features are brightly painted front doors that have accents of wrought iron and decorative wooden support posts along the front porch's length.
5. Santa Fe is yet another well-known style of Southwestern architectural design. The longest lasting style is the kiva. This is a semi-circular corner fireplace that is covered by stucco. Usually flanked by bancos, which are built-in stucco-covered benches, the kiva is a lovely place of relaxation after working long hours.
Many people wrongly assume that adobe is an architectural style. It is indeed a technique of building that is used in many of the Southwest architectural styles. Sand and clay were mixed in with water and made into bricks. These bricks were cured outdoors in the sunlight. They are usually coated with a finish of plaster both to give it appeal and to keep it protected from the weather. The primary features to note in a Southwest style are parapet walls, flat roofs,stucco exteriors, and a wrought iron front door.
