Kiva

A kiva was originally part of the Kachina Belief System. A man sized hole dug into the ground used for ritual and religious ceremony. Kachina is the belief of connection between birth and motherearth. Examples of kivas can be found around the south west including Colorado and Utah.

Today Southwestern design can mean different ideas to different people. But the corner stone of most south western homes is a kiva. A fireplace with a particular look. Usually a kiva is curved, rounded and made of clay, stone or rock.

Kivas are an excellent source of heat and a good use of native materials. Below is a kiva, south facing windows and thermal mass.