Project: Sundial House
Architect: Specht Novak
Landscape Architect: James David
Interior Design: Norine Hayes
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Photographer: Taggart Sorensen
The Sundial House by Specht Novak is a striking concrete residence perched on a ridge in Santa Fe. Completed in 2017, the home is defined by its bold geometry, minimalist material palette, and strong dialogue with the surrounding desert landscape. By blending monumental concrete walls with shifting light, the project captures the rhythm of time and place in a uniquely architectural way.
Walls That Define Space
At the heart of Sundial House are two long, board-formed concrete walls set perpendicularly. These walls organize the plan, linking interior and exterior spaces while anchoring the home to its rugged site. A narrow skylight runs the entire 125-foot length of one wall, and as the sun moves throughout the day, it casts dramatic shadows that transform the interior into a living sundial.
An Entrance Rooted in the Earth
The approach to the house enhances a sense of protection and calm. The front façade is set deep into the earth, creating a recessed courtyard that leads to a shaded vestibule. From here, a carefully framed opening in one of the concrete walls guides visitors into the main living areas, where sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains suddenly unfold. This transition from enclosure to vast openness is central to the experience of Sundial House.
Light, Shelter, and Landscape
Although large expanses of glass frame the mountain scenery, deep cantilevered roof forms provide continuous shade and create generous porches around the perimeter. As a result, the house balances openness with protection, allowing residents to enjoy the desert environment without harsh exposure. The design emphasizes continuity—physically through its layered walls and porches, and temporally through its dynamic play of sunlight and shadow.
In the end, the Sundial House stands as both a retreat and a landmark. It enhances a deep sense of connection to the land while offering shelter that feels timeless and enduring. Through its material honesty and choreographed light, the home celebrates the desert’s stark beauty and the passage of time itself.
