O'Neal Residence, Placitas New Mexico
Influenced by the simple stepped masses of the areas indigenous pueblos the Placitas residence overlooks the cottonwood lined drainage of Las Huertas Creek. This passive solar home's orientation has been optimized to provide winter heating and summer ventilation cooling. Organized around a south facing courtyard with views to the Sandia mountains the home allows the winter sun deep into the living room for passive solar heating.In the summer months the house opens to cool summer breezes that desend off of the Sandia Mountains. Similar to regional adobe structures that take advantage of the diurnal tempurature swings the O'Neal residence is built from Rastra concrete forms that keep the structure cool during the day and warm in the evenings.