Simspiration: Architecture Inspired by a Millenium of Tradition and Design in Taos, NM

Taos, New Mexico is a magnet for artists seeking inspiration. Local photographer Olga Nazarova is among the transplants who are drawn to this high-desert enclave. “The vast space and community are what brought me and is keeping me here,” she explains. Taos’ combination of a long-standing arts community, imposing Sangre de Cristo Mountains and ancient Indigenous architecture creates a special allure. Olga is especially taken with Taos’ Adobe and modern ranch architecture. 

It’s impossible to discuss Adobe structures without first mentioning Taos Pueblo, which is both a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. This multistory, multi-family structure dates back to around 1000 C.E., and represents a typical dwelling inhabited by local Native American tribes. In fact, about 150 Pueblo Native Americans still live there today, and parts of it are open to the public.

Sul sul Simmers! A spark of inspiration courtesy of the real world, through the lens of its local photographers. Like so many of you, we see inspiration all around, both inside and outside of our games. This is Simspiration.

The pueblo remains well intact thanks to its building materials: Adobe sun-dried bricks (a mix of earth, water and straw), which are regularly re-coated with mud to reinforce the exterior. Meanwhile, reapplications of white earth keep the interior fresh and clean. The earliest pueblos lacked doors and windows, and instead used ladders to gain entry. Later versions added windows and doors. 

This style of building is found throughout the region, as is evidenced in this traditional, small Adobe home in Embudo, New Mexico. It maintains the simplicity of the pueblo aesthetic, complete with a flat roof, ladder and the white-walled interior. “I was inspired by the way the light falls on the soft curves of the architecture in all the houses,” shares Olga. “The Adobe-colored walls seem to soak in the light and become alive.”

Local architecture tours (self and guided) provide a deeper dive into the area’s design history, covering Spanish influence, churches and distinctive periods, from Folk Territorial to Territorial Revival. There’s even an Earthship Visitor Center educating the public about its design principles.

Earthship architecture is another design style that can be found in the southwest. It emerged in New Mexico in the 1970s and prioritizes local, sustainable materials and renewable energy in order to create a self-sustaining home. This one is unusual since it combines elements of pueblo architecture with distinctive castle-like features.

Yet another take on Taos architecture is this Modern Ranch in Valdez, New Mexico. The Contemporary Ranch style homes pull modernist ideas and wood accents with wide open layout to transform into a relaxed living space that blends into nature. This Modern Ranch combines the past and present by blending Adobe walls and rounded windows with more modern features, such as the fully equipped kitchen. High ceilings and natural daylight are additional pueblo nods, proving that sometimes you can have it all.

As for Olga, she would love to live in a combination of all three homes, creating a happy mix of Adobe, skylights, curved walls and white plaster. And lots and lots of plants.  “I chose these houses to showcase the beauty of when architecture is aligned with nature, and adheres to the culture of the area.”  

Dag dag and happy Simming!