ART DEKKER

ARTHUR "ART" DEKKER (1922–2007) was a pioneering New Mexico architect and structural engineer whose career helped define postwar residential and institutional design in the state. A modernist practitioner, he favored a restrained, functional approach that adapted well to Albuquerque’s regional context.

Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Dekker earned a B.A. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1948, after serving in the Air Force during World War II and again from 1951 to 1954, when he rose to the rank of captain. He gained early experience at Brittell, Grineer & Associates before founding his own firm, Art Dekker Architects, in 1959. The practice later evolved into Dekker, a major Southwest firm still led by his son, Dale Dekker.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dekker designed more than 1,000 buildings, including residences, churches, and civic renovations. His work reflected the growth of postwar Albuquerque, especially the demand for distinctive homes and smaller-scale projects that larger developers often overlooked. He became an important figure in shaping the region’s midcentury modern landscape.

Dekker rejected the regionally popular Mission, Spanish Revival, and Pueblo Revival styles in favor of modernism, using clean geometry, open planning, and minimal ornament. His work helped prove that contemporary architecture could thrive in New Mexico while still responding to local conditions. Beyond his buildings, he also contributed to the profession through leadership and support for UNM architecture students.

NOTABLE PROJECTS

His best-known work is the 1965 Dekker House, a strong example of high desert modernism. The residence he built for his own family combines sleek modern lines of Case Study houses with materials such as Crego aggregate block, travertine, and wood ceilings, along with open interiors, floating fireplaces, large windows framing views of the Sandia Mountains, and an integrated patio that connects the house to its surroundings.

Dekker also worked on the design of the Redeemer Lutheran Church (220 Alvarado Dr, SE, Albuquerque), known for its soaring wooden sanctuary ceiling, buff-colored brick walls, and many religious midcentury modern design details.

Dekker's legacy is less about a single iconic tower than about the steady shaping of everyday modern architecture across the region. Dekker left his mark with his broad body of work with residential commissions, churches, and industrial and commercial spaces throughout New Mexico.

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REFERENCES

  1. Dekker, A. W. (1965). A residence for Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Dekker [Architectural drawings]. Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico.

  2. architectureforsale.com. (n.d.). Arthur Dekker, Architect: Dekker House. Architecture For Sale.

  3. Seward, J. (2022, January 10). N.M. architect makes an impact, by design. Engineering News-Record (ENR).

  4. Strasser, S. (2011, October 9). A.W. Dekker House. Albuquerque Modernism Project.

  5. Dekker. (2023, January 19). New Mexico architecture firm. https://www.dekkerdesign.org/new-mexico/

  6. Credit for photo of Art Dekker: Albuquerque Journal Archive.