Ranch-Style
Architecture Aficionados
T
here’s nothing quite like a ranch home in the Southwest. The word “ranch” alone connotes freedom, open space and a sumptuous combination of the rustic and luxurious. In fact, “ranch” is the abbreviated derivative of the Spanish “rancho,” a term dating back to the early 1800s. New Mexico has a vibrant history of ranching that dates back over three centuries when the Spanish introduced livestock to the American southwest. In modern times, there still exists a rich ranching culture. While many ranches are owned by the families that have maintained them for hundreds of years, the ranching lifestyle has become attractive to newcomers as well. More and
PREVIOUS PAGE Vermejo Park Ranch ABOVE Custom ranch residences
more, affluent people are discovering the abundant natural resources New Mexico has to offer and that by owning a ranch, they are providing themselves with a needed escape from hectic modern life. The beauty of the southwest landscape speaks for itself; there are a variety of different topographies to be found within New Mexico’s borders. From the gentle rolling hills of the east to the rugged mountainous terrain of central, northern and western New Mexico, ranches of all sizes dot the landscape. At Conron & Woods Architects (CWA), your local ranch experts, the goal is to accentuate the beauty inherent in the land by designing architecture in which to best enjoy and interact with nature. Their work is characterized by a balance between respecting the majestic settings
and designing buildings that best suit a client’s diverse tastes and needs. Roy Woods, AIA, is the owner and principal architect at CWA. He grew up in Taos and is a long-time Santa Fe resident. Roy has lived a dual life practicing architecture for the past 40 years and simultaneously tending to his ranch in northern New Mexico. He intimately understands the unique needs of a ranch and applies his first-hand experience to all of CWA’s ranch and equestrian projects. The best testament to CWA’s dedication to their clients and expertise in the field is the number of repeat clients they have maintained over the past few decades and the amount of work that has been generated from referrals. CWA’s current work brings them to the northern border of New Mexico,
where lies the 590,823-acre Vermejo Park Ranch, one of the largest in the continental United States. Vermejo Park Ranch (VPR) was originally part of the Maxwell land grant and is currently owned by Ted Turner. CWA has been working on VPR for the last 10 years and is currently preserving and restoring the ranch’s 25,000 sq. ft. Casa Grande mansion. Once completed this fall, the meticulously preserved estate will feature carefully selected finishes and furnishings restored in keeping with the historic character unique to the 100-year-old residence. CWA’s extensive experience in historic preservation over the past few decades has enabled them to pay the utmost attention and care this project requires in upgrading the existing systems and technology.
ABOVE LEFT 6,000 sq. ft. residence and equestrian facility ABOVE RIGHT Casa Grande, now and then BELOW TOP Sobia Sayeda, senior designer and Martin Kuziel, AIA project architect BELOW BOTTOM Roy Woods, AIA owner and principal architect with Maude the Horse
Another ranch home that was completed by CWA late last fall is a gorgeous estate nestled in a bend of the Pecos River, just half an hour outside Santa Fe. This ranch underwent a dramatic transformation over the past few years. Some of its features include worldclass trout fishing along the river, diverse wildlife, rolling hills, canyon lands and lush forest. In addition to a new luxurious 13,000 sq. ft. main residence, two remodeled guest houses and an equestrian complex, CWA’s work included a full rehabilitation of the Pecos River, re-forestation, massive infrastructural improvements which included extensive road work, bridges and wildlife drinkers/feeders. Another unique service CWA provided was working with a local archaeologist to map and diagram the plethora of archaeological sites found throughout the 5,000-acre ranch.
Who better than an award winning architect and rancher like CWA’s Roy Woods to design a ranch? If you are considering remodeling or developing your ranch or equestrian property, consult with CWA first. They offer the expertise of experienced professionals who have your interests foremost in mind when designing ranches and residences tailored to your unique tastes and needs.
Conron & Woods Architects 1222 Luisa St., Suite A Santa Fe, NM 87505 505.983.6948 www.ConronAndWoods.com