The Small Adobe House

Building or remodeling an adobe house is an artistic endeavor, with all the satisfaction-and occasional frustration-of any artistic effort. But once you've lived sheltered by adobe walls, you won't want anything else. < BR>Introducing the traditional ins and outs of each architectural element-roofs and ceilings, doors, windows, floors, walls, and portals--The Small Adobe House is both an introduction to adobe structures and an idea book for people who want to remodel a classic home or build a new one. < BR>Beyond the basics, Reeve and Reck illustrate possibilities for frills, show that any kind of interior decor is accepted by adobe walls, and give examples of contemporary innovations in adobe houses. < BR>The final word on the small adobe house is that it combines the best of several elements: comfort, adaptability, tradition, and almost limitless possibilities for expansion and personal expression. < BR>Agnesa Reeve's informed commentary and Robert Reck's exquisite photographs combine to create a magical adobe experience. < BR>Agnesa Reeve, a historian, is past president of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation. Her writings about southwestern architecture and cuisine have been published in journals, and her books include From Hacienda to Bungalow (UNM Press, 1988) and Cooking with a Handful of Ingredients (Cimarron Press, 1993). She lives in Santa Fe. < BR>Robert Reck is a contributing photographer to Architectural Digest and has been published in most of the major architectural journals worldwide, including Architecture, Architectural Record, A+U, and Hauser. He was the lead photographer for the book Santa Fe Style and has significantly contributed to the monographs of many preeminent architects, including Antoine Predock and Robert A. M. Stern. < BR>