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sun dried adobe

compressed earth block

light weight concrete

straw bale

rammed earth

passive solar

active solar

other projects

materials: reclaimed-recycled-local

philosophymadeen architecture backgroundconstruction project planningcontact Madeen architecture in Durango and Telluride, Colorado


Passive solar adobe & wood frmae publo style residence in
Passive solar adobe & wood frame pueblo style residence in
Tesque, New Mexico


Historical adobe estate in Sante Fe, New Mexico
Historical adobe estate in Sante Fe, New Mexico



passive solar "mountain style" adobe residence near Telluride, Colorado utilizing local logs with the adobes exposed on the interiors



passive solar "mountain style" adobe residence near Telluride, Colorado utilizing local logs with the adobes exposed on the interiors


Commercial sun dried adobe at the historical town of Ojo Caliente hot springs
Commercial sun dried adobe at the historical town of Ojo Caliente hot springs


Tuscan Style solar adobe residence along the Animas River in Durango, Colorado
Tuscan Style solar adobe residence along the Animas River in Durango, Colorado


adobe professional sound recording studio in Sante Fe, New Mexico
2,000 sq. ft. adobe professional sound recording studio in Sante Fe, New Mexico


Double adobe ecological residence in Canyoncito, New Mexico
Double adobe ecological residence in Canyoncito, New Mexico


Adobe Residence Entry
Adobe Residence


adobe residence interior
alternative-natural-environmental architecture by Greg Madeen


Adobe Kiva Fireplace photo
Adobe Kiva Fireplace


Enviromental passive solar adobe residence near Telluride, ColoradoEnviromental passive solar adobe residence near Telluride, Colorado


Solar residence in Durango, CO
Solar residence in Durango, CO


Exposed adobe wall
Exposed adobe wall


Energy efficient adobe residence
Energy efficient residence


Two story adobe Residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico
Two story adobe Residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico


Dining room with plastered adobe walls
Dining room with plastered adobe walls


Natural solar adobe residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico
Natural solar adobe residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico


Pueblo style adobe residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico
Pueblo style adobe residence in Sante Fe, New Mexico


Innovative adobe storm water directing canale
Innovative adobe storm water directing canale


Two story adobe residence in northern New Mexico
Two story adobe residence in northern New Mexico


Territorial style commercial adobe project
Territorial style commercial adobe project


Adobe fireplace at commercial retreat near Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Adobe fireplace at commercial retreat near Pagosa Springs, Colorado


Residential adobe interior in Sante Fe, New Mexico
Residential adobe interior in Sante Fe, New Mexico


Adobe, wood frame, and fired brick residence in northern New Mexico
Adobe, wood frame, and fired brick residence in northern New Mexico


Adobe walls on a northern New Mexico style house
Adobe walls on a northern New Mexico style house


Exposed adobe garden wall in Tesque, New Mexico
Exposed adobe garden wall in Tesuque, New Mexico


Exposed adobe privacy wall with tile cap
Exposed adobe privacy wall with tile cap



Adobe Residence on the Gunnison River near Grand Junction, Colorado
Adobe Residence on the Gunnison River near Grand Junction, Colorado


Adobe Residence on the Gunnison River near Grand Junction, Colorado
sustainable Santa Fe style design by environmental architect-Greg Madeen


Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico
Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico


Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico
Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico



Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico
Adobe Residence in northern New, Mexico


Passive solar adobe residence in historic Sante Fe, New Mexico
holistic passive solar adobe residence in historic Sante Fe, New Mexico


Passive solar adobe residence in historic Sante Fe, New Mexico
Passive solar adobe residence in historic Sante Fe, New Mexico with an exposed adobe privacy wall


Holistic solar adobe residence in Southwest Colorado
sustainable solar adobe residence in Southwest Colorado



Active & passive solar adobe residence in central Colorado


Greg Madeen laying adobes
Greg Madeen laying adobes decades ago







Adobe:
Adobe is the popular Spanish word for mud brick. The term Adobe refers to an unfired earth brick used for building walls. Adobe bricks are made of sand, clay, water, and sometimes straw.

The brick typically measures approximately 10"wx14"lx4"h. The bricks are dried in the sun and then stacked to build walls. Often covered in stucco or earth plaster, adobe walls provide excellent thermal mass that combines well with passive solar heating. Adobes can also be used to form vaults and domes. Adobe is a forgiving material.


Some feel that the unfired clay in adobes has an additional low- tech evaporative cooling effect similar to a phase change material.


Sometimes adobes are stabilized with various additives to make them more impervious to moisture. Most of the oldest structures still in existence are were constructed with adobes. An adobe is a very natural product. Some estimates suggest over 1/2 the worlds population live in earthen structures.

Madeen Architecture & Construction, LLC
102 East 8th St., Suite 215
Durango, CO 81301   
(970)769-0090

326 Midland Ave, #203   Aspen, CO 81611

© All photos and designs are property of Madeen Architecture & Construction.