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Having been halfway around the world already documenting earth architecture, I didn't nearly need any more North American material for the natural building film. But at least for the time being, especially since "An Inconvenient Truth", the whole world is looking at the U.S. in some kind of global leadership role. So if we can create a planetary awareness around American eco-architecture, perhaps that will legitimate it in the eyes of others? These natural homes of adobe are the oldest permanent structures on the continent that have been continuous lived in all this time, nearly a millenium. The Pueblo people were conquered by Spanish settlers 400 years ago, but despite bring overrun by empire, they have resisted the encroachment of colonist culture. They still maintain tribal autonomy over their lands, and their water sources. The indigenous building styles of these Taos tribes have been so influential on successive waves of European immigration that all along down the spine of settlement that runs through Santa Fe and Albequerque are thousands of homes and other structures of adobe. And even the ones that have been built out of concrete or other materials -- the adobe style is so loved here in the Southwest, that many are made to imitate it in appearance.
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Certainly, up and down the West Coast of Cascadia are many examples of inspiring earth architecture. But nowhere else in America can you see entire landscapes of earth, whole villages of mud structures. The town may open its doors in the daytime to inquisitive tourists, but by evening, it's a fully functional community, maintaining its ways, living lightly and naturally, they way we all might have, in a once and future primitive.
These pictures could not possibly have been taken without the selfless help of natural designer, builder, and media maker Michael Blaha. He's recently relocated to the Taos, New Mexico, area, where he's been working with plaster master Carole Crews, and building up his own burgeoning cob compound. Michael's trusty truck took us to the international adobe builders' conference, where we exchanged ideas with natural builders from as far away as Norway, Nepal, and Nigeria. He worked the still camera on this Old Bricks of Cob pictorial portfolio, and provided invaluable logistical support for the entire Taos series. Michael, the natural building world owes you a debt of gratitude for your invaluable contribution to earth arts & science!
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