Southwestern Ornamentation and Design: The Architecture of John Gaw Meem

The archives of the Meem Room in Zimmerman Library at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque contain a wealth of drawings done by one of New Mexico's most renowned architects, John Gaw Meem. Meem's legacy is in part his contribution to the preservation and renewal of historic American Southwestern architecture. Much of the indigenous building and craft work which inspired Meem is gone now, but his work remains as our model for historic architectural details and design. This book lauds Meem's substantial use of crafted ornamentation and details such as gates, doors, corbels, fireplaces, metal work, light fixtures, etc., and shows his sensitivity to the cultural environment he in turn contributed so much to as an example for homeowners, builders, and designers everywhere.