Rising Circle Ranch
Modern Elder Academy
Santa Fe, New Mexico
About the Project
Set against the vast backdrop of the New Mexico high desert, Rising Circle Ranch is a study in intentional design—where architecture, nature, and soul align. We were invited by the visionary team at the Modern Elder Academy, led by hospitality pioneer Chip Conley, to help shape the interiors for MEA’s newest campus: a 2,566-acre retreat designed for transformation and reflection.
Just south of Santa Fe, the ranch unfolds across sweeping grasslands, ancient cottonwoods, and quiet ridgelines. Our task was to translate that raw beauty into built form—creating spaces that feel both grounded and elevated, rustic and refined. The interiors celebrate natural materials and quiet luxury: earthen plaster walls, reclaimed timbers, handwoven textiles, and aged metals that patina with time and touch.
Every element was selected to serve the experience: communal spaces that nurture conversation, private rooms that invite stillness, and layered textures that honor craft and imperfection. Nothing here is overly designed; everything is deeply considered.
More than a campus, Rising Circle Ranch is a place to ask essential questions—about self, purpose, and belonging. It’s not a retreat from life, but a return to it.