Earthen bricks have been used to construct properties, churches, as well as other structures all over the world for thousands of years. These bricks have been in continuous use in Taos, New Mexico for generations. Many of these structures around the globe are still standing, and though most have been brought up to date in terms of sanitation and kitchen facilities, they are just as charming 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 design and versatility.

Adobe (made of sand, soil, straw and water), and other manifestations of this building material, such as “pressed block” and “rammed earth” remains popular throughout New Mexico, as well as throughout the country. In fact, the very 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 across much of Europe in many forms. In fact the Great Wall of China is constructed of earthen materials and portions of it have been standing for 2000 years. While adobe, in its purest form, is found primarily in drier parts of the country due to an inability to withstand wet weather conditions, adaptations 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 homes, rather than using logs or wood, when they arrived. Some of those buildings are still standing in states such as Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and New York.

The utilization of adobe was controlled by building rules in many states after the lumber and brick industries became prevalent. However, restrictions are being lifted as the green movement has proven that variations 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 energy utilization for both cooling and heating.

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

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

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