Southwestern Adobe House Design
Contemporary Southwestern house designs embrace the adobe house style. Dating back to the 19th century, Adobe is a traditional building material used to construct homes, both in the southwest region and across the world. An adobe house is typically made with unbaked sun-dried mud bricks that are molded together and then baked in the sun. This type of Southwestern house typically has thick walls that are resistant to heat and can be insulated easily. Common features of Southwestern adobe house designs include a flat roof, an arch entrance, and low-hung windows. Adobe houses are often found in rural and low-income communities and are usually painted white.
Southwestern Hacienda House Design
Southwestern Hacienda house designs are rooted in a historic and traditional building style. The buildings were built to provide shelter to ranch owners or their guests, and typically included some form of corrals and a garden. Southwestern Hacienda house designs are characterized by wood frames and flat roofs, as well as thick walls and large picture windows. The walls are often made of adobe bricks and feature large, squared porch columns. These traditional houses, typically found in rural areas, have repetitive, simple details and a symmetrical façade that can be admired for their Spanish-Moorish style.
Southwestern Pueblo Style House Design
The Pueblo style Southwest home has its own distinctive style that blends traditional adobe elements with more modern details. This style of Southwest house design is rooted in a centuries-old Native American philosophy and incorporates regional structural techniques such as jacal design. These homes are characterized by their use of low-lying wood framing and stucco or adobe bricks with rounded corners. Common features of the pueblo style include balconies and terraces, as well as thick walls that provide insulation and thermal conductivity.
Southwestern Territorial House Design
The Territorial Southwest house design is one of the oldest and most traditional styles of Southwestern home architecture. This style of house has its roots in the 19th century settlement of the American Southwest. Typical features of Territorial houses include low-pitched gable roofs, stuccoed walls, and smooth plaster walls. The homes also feature some type of porch, usually with wooden columns. The Territorial design is typically low, extended, and rectangular with symmetrical detailing.
Southwestern Spanish Revival House Design
The Southwest Spanish Revival house style incorporates traditional elements of Native American Indian architecture with more contemporary features. The style is often characterized by low-pitched mission style roofs, along with stucco and/or adobe brick walls. The homes also tend to have smooth plaster interiors and courtyards, as well as thick walls for insulation and thermal storage. This style blends rustic elements with European and Spanish influences for a unique look.
Southwestern Mediterranean House Design
The Mediterranean style Southwest house blend traditional design concepts from the Mediterranean region with the hot and dry climate of the American Southwest. Common features of a Mediterranean style home include thick walls, arched doorways, and domed roofs. These homes also often feature balconies and terraces, as well as other courtyard elements that can provide shade and keep the temperature inside the home low. Mediterranean style homes are typically built with clay-tile roofs and stucco walls. The homes are often brightly-colored and have intricate patterns.
Southwestern Texas Hill Country House Design
The Hill Country Southwest house style is a mix of traditional and modern elements. These homes often feature low-pitched gabled roofs, and long, low-slung walls. Common features of a Hill Country house include large porches, as well as large wooden beams that act as structural elements. The roofs are usually made with steel, clay tiles, or shingle. Walls can be stucco, brick, or stone. This style of Southwest house design is typically decorated with brightly-colored accents that draw from the traditional look and feel of the region.
Modern Southwestern House Design
Modern Southwest house designs blend contemporary features with traditional elements of Southwestern architecture. These modern homes often feature low-pitched rooflines, and large windows that let in light and air. Common features of modern Southwest homes include metal roofs, large outdoor terraces, and tall columns. The homes are usually constructed from materials that include concrete, stucco, wood, and stone. These homes also typically have bright and vivid accents that bring out the unique elements of the architecture.
Contemporary Southwestern House Design
Contemporary Southwest house designs often incorporate some of the same elements as the modern style, but with bolder details. These homes feature low-pitched roofs and stucco walls, as well as open floor plans and large windows. Contemporary Southwestern homes also typically feature geometric shapes and bright colors. These homes often embrace energy-efficient design principles, such as adding skylights, large windows, and ventilation systems to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the home.
Southwestern Craftsman House Design
The Southwestern Craftsman house design combines the traditional adobe-style home with the American Craftsman style. This style of house typically features low-pitched gable roofs and thick adobe walls. Other common elements of this style include shake shingles, large porches, and wood frames. The Craftsman style is often characterized by its simplicity and lack of ornaments. These homes often feature a low-profile facade, simple detailing, and painted exterior walls.
Southwestern House Design

Classic Southwestern Style

Modern Southwestern Style

Integration of Other Styles

Considerations for Southwestern Homes

Southwestern Design Can Offer Unique Benefits
