BEST OF THE BEST

During Haciendas — A Parade of Homes, professionals in home construction, design, green building, and architecture showcase Santa Fe’s style and cutting-edge design during the best open house in the West. But the parade isn’t only a design showcase; it’s a competition to celebrate our unique regional architecture. New Mexico builders, architects, design professionals, and real estate agents evaluate homes for awards within several price-point categories. Awards are announced at the Builders Gala, held under the stars at the historic Bishop’s Lodge on Aug. 15. Here are the honors this year:

Grand Hacienda

The overall Best in Show, this award recognizes an entry, in any price category, that excels in all areas of craftsmanship and aesthetic value. The winner is the most memorable and outstanding build of the year.

Craftsmanship

Judges award this honor to homes exhibiting the pinnacle of quality workmanship, integration of materials, functionality, and execution of finishes.

BEST IN SHOW SANTA FE — CONTEMPORARY

This award recognizes a parade home emerging from our region’s historic building traditions and ascending to the next level to create a new, innovative, and contemporary take on Santa Fe style.

BEST IN SHOW — SANTA FE TRADITIONAL

Judges bestow this honor on a parade home manifesting everything we’ve grown to love about Santa Fe style: “brown and round,” the use of traditional materials, and timehonored building traditions that date to Santa Fe’s earliest days and draw design inspiration from Spanish, Mexican, and Ancestral Puebloan styles.

Santa Fe Legacy

This award recognizes a builder whose work has significantly impacted Santa Fe’s built environment, the community, and the vitality of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.

DESIGN AWARDS (ARCHITECTURAL, INTERIOR, OUTDOOR LIVING)

Judges award these honors to parade homes that make extraordinary architectural and design impacts on the built environment. Judges consider movement within the home, livability, site planning, innovation, and the overall design aesthetic when granting this award.

Best Outdoor Living Space

In awarding this honor, judges consider the integration of interior and exterior spaces, utilization of views, landscaping, quality of the outdoor living environment, and a creative use of materials.

Best Kitchen

Judges look for functionality, surface materials, flow, and conveniences when granting this award.

Best Primary Suite

The homes with the best circulation, materials, comfort, and beauty in the primary suite earn this award.

Ted Swisher Green Building Award

Honoring the green building ethos and housing advocacy work of Ted Swisher of Habitat for Humanity, this award recognizes outstanding achievements in green building, including the use of sustainable materials and innovative solutions that raise the bar for water- and energy-efficient homes.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

The people shall be heard! Ticket-holding parade-goers on the first weekend (Aug. 11–13) are invited to vote for their favorite home on the tour at santafeparadeofhomes.com. Winners of the People’s Choice Award are announced at the gala on Aug. 15.

Special Awards

Haciendas judges may also recognize builders with special awards for unexpected or remarkable elements of their parade homes. They may also honor build teams that include interior design professionals with awards for finishing touches in completely appointed homes.