Adobe bricks have been used to construct residences, churches, and other buildings around the world for thousands of years. These bricks have been in continuous use in Taos, New Mexico for hundreds of years. Many of these buildings around the globe are still standing, and though most have been brought up to date in terms of sanitation and kitchen facilities, they are equally as beautiful as the day they were first occupied. In fact, the style that is realized using adobe is so interesting, and so much a part of the culture, that Taos homes for sale include both old historical structures and new construction still using adobe bricks for their style and versatility.

Adobe (made of sand, soil, straw and water), and other manifestations of this construction material, such as “pressed block” and “rammed earth” remains popular throughout New Mexico, as well as throughout the country. The reality is, the first use actually goes back to about 8000 BC and was used by the earliest man to produce shelters as a means of defense against the elements.

Structures dating as early as 1300 BC still endure in Egypt, while earthen structures were built throughout much of Europe in many forms. In point of fact the Great Wall of China is constructed of earthen materials and parts of it have been standing for 2000 years. While adobe, in its purest form, is found mainly in drier climates due to an inability to stand up to wet weather conditions, variations enable these structures to withstand even the wettest, rainiest climates.

When Europeans immigrated to the United States, many brought their old building techniques with them. In fact, many of the earliest colonists built earth houses, as opposed to using logs or wood, when they arrived. Some of those buildings remain standing in states such as Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and New York.

The utilization of adobe was restricted by building codes in many states after the lumber and brick industries became prevalent. However, restrictions are being lifted as the green movement has shown that different forms of earthen materials are actually particularly eco-friendly, and offer additional benefits in the process. Earthen structures are fire retardant, pest resistant, and economical to create. They stand up well in earthquakes, are sound proof, and lower power usage for both cooling and heating.

The Pueblo, the oldest continuously occupied Taos property, built approximately 1000 years ago, houses a cluster of buildings constructed of adobe. The Pueblo consists of adobe houses, still home to 15 families, and the San Esteban del Rey Mission Church that was built in 1640.

New Taos properties continue to be constructed of earthen materials, but include environmentally friendly features such as passive solar construction which can reduce energy usage by roughly 60% in hot arid areas such as Taos, New Mexico. Because making adobe bricks is labor intensive, professional home construction can be costly. There are however, many Taos properties often known as “homes of love” because they are built brick by brick by the home owners and as such are each unique works of art in a city that is also known as an art colony in the high desert of New Mexico.

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