Glossary of regional building terms

adobe - sun-dried earthen bricks; and a house made of adobe bricks

alacena - cupboard built into an interior adobe wall

araña – traditional wooden, cross- or spider-shaped candle chandelier

arroyo - natural watercourse, usually dry; a gully

banco - adobe (or facsimile) bench built at the base of a wall

canales -drains pouts extending out from parapet of flat roof, originally designed to protect adobe wall from falling water

cedros – (See rajas)

corbel – scroll-shaped wood bracket used to support a viga

entrada - entryway

latillas - juniper or alder branches used for ceilings and coyote fences

nicho - niche in interior adobe wall used for display of santos and artworks

Northern New Mexico style - Vernacular or Spanish-Pueblo-style house having a pitched tin roof and painted woodwork and trim

placita - courtyard

portál - porch, often with beamed roof supported by corbels and zapatas on posts.

rajas – split juniper (“cedar”) used like latillas for ceiling

sala – living room

Spanish-Pueblo Revival style - House having walls of earth-colored adobe (or facsimile), flat roof with canales, often with vigas projecting from front exterior wall; typically one story

Talavera - colorful Mexican tile bearing Moorish designs based on precedent made in Talavera de la Reina, Spain

Territorial Revival style - Spanish-Pueblo style house modified with sharper edges, brick coping on parapets, and white-painted, milled-wood details such as pedimented lintels on window frames and squared portal posts

torta – packed mud traditionally used over viga/latilla ceiling

trastero - cupboard

viga - debarked log used as ceiling beam

zapata – similar to corbel but double-ended, used to support beam joint on post