Historic Bungalow in the Silver Hill neighborhood

Our city is a great melting pot of architectural building styles. Bungalows, built originally in California after the turn of the century, were built in Albuquerque starting around 1910, and continued until WWII. In the MetroABQ area, bungalows are a small architectural niche–there aren’t many, and they tend to be located in the core of the city, from Old Town to Nob Hill.

Features include one-and-a-half stories, a large sitting porch, often located under its own roof (see photo), with exposed beams, rafters, wooden brackets to support the eaves and tapered porch piers. The typical bungalow plan includes a large living/dining room, and kitchen to one side, a small hall, bathroom and bedrooms (typically two) on the other side. I live in an historic 1928 bungalow (above) and appreciate the great use of private/public space–the bedrooms are separated by the bathroom–with minimal hallways.

Wonderful condo unit close to community center

Immaculate 1st-level wheelchair accessible Condo, in quieter, eastern section of gated Rancho Mirage. One of largest floorplans, w/ views of wonderful Greenspace surrounding private patio deck. Close to Pools, Clubhouse & Workout Room. Wet area ceramic Tile floors, Oak Kitchen Cabinets, Breakfast Bar, recessed lighting & pantry. Wide hallway, generous bedrooms. Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet w/ Greenspace views. Detached garage close by w/ extra storage. Night-time security w/ well-lit streets.

2517 Rancho Mirage in the Vista del Norte subdivision

Info about the newest listing at 2517 Rancho Mirage

2101 Oxford Drive SE MetroABQ NM 87106

Silver Hill 1920's Hipped Cottage with Dormers

1920's Historic Hipped cottage in Silver Hill neighborhood

Click here to visit the Visual Tour for 2101 Oxford Drive SE in Silver Hill Historic District

ABQ Lawn Art

Besides interesting architecture, the MetroABQ area is also full of creative front yards. The art is often whimsical, sometimes serious, and I always discover it in unexpected places. Immediately below are steel works around the UNM area.

Great Land Shark on border of UNM and Nob Hill

Nob Hill Roadrunner Lawn Art

Below are clay figures staring out at Menaul Blvd in the NE Heights. More Lawn Art featured in a following post.

A Casual Sit: Clay figures in the NE Heights

La Luz on Albuquerque's Westside, designed by Antoine Predock

For more information about and photos from La Luz del Sol or La Luz del Oeste, click on this link: MetroABQ Newsletter – October, 2010

Very Green! Local ABQ builder Paul Allen Green Homes has been recognized as a top Gold Certified Builder in the United States by the National Association of Home Builders.

Less than five months from groundbreaking to finished Paul Allen Home

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Green Partner Award is the first award of its kind given. This award represents the largest number of Certified Gold and Silver “Green Build” single-family homes. Paul Allen Homes built 100 Gold-Certified homes and 30 Silver-Certified homes in Albuquerque’s Saltillo Community located at McMahon & Unser.      The six-year-old company has already made quite a name for itself by building highly energy-efficient yet affordable housing, which on average holds down heating and cooling bills to less than $100 per year, said Rex Wilson, President of Paul Allen Homes.      I worked with clients to choose a site at the Saltillo Community; they picked the designable floorplan, and then watched from afar over five months as the home was built. The company was easy to work with, flexible in their plan and my clients can attest to the extremely low utility bills!

On Summer Spirit on the MetroABQ's Westside, near the Rio Rancho border

Finished Homes in Saltillo Community, by Paul Allen Green Homes

212 Dartmouth Drive SE, in the heart of Nob Hill

212 Dartmouth Drive in the heart of Historic Nob Hill. Sweet Mediterranian-style Nob Hill home: Arches, Ceramic tile & large arched front picturewindow. Original Deco wall sconces & kitchen & bath tile, unique Nichos, hardwood & Saltillo, NM Revival punched tin light fixture, + other original details. Spacious & open Living, Dining rooms, w/ 2 generous bedrooms in main house. Private detached 320sqft post-1959 Casita w/ tiled bath & bedroom, & own entrance. House has basement laundry w/ bonus storage room. Large yard. Very walkable area! Come see!

212 Dartmouth Drive SE, east of the UNM Campus

The Metro Albuquerque area has numerous historic areas. Some historic areas have been set aside into Historic Ovelay Zones (HOZ), which limits what a homeowner can do to the exterior of the property. This encourages the areas to keep their historic character. Currently there are five HOZ’s in the MetroABQ: Old Town HOZ, Fourth Ward HOZ, the Eighth and Forrester HOZ, the Huning Highlands HOZ, and below is a map of the most recent acquisition into the MetroABQ HOZ family, the Silver Hill Historic Overlay Zone.

Silver Hill Historic Overlay Zone Map