Mission Statement
The historic buildings of California and Mexico inspire the design of a desert hacienda.
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The other frequently used areas in the hacienda—the master bedroom, office, kitchen and a guest wing—connect with its wide, shady loggias, which are further lengthened by attached verandas. Beyond the open side of the courtyard is a pool pavilion with a barbecue area, fire pit and bar, as well as a gym, spa, sauna and full bath. The lot had to be leveled to make the design possible, says the husband. “Where the master bedroom suite is, the land fell off, so we had to put up retaining walls to flatten it out.”; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
A tumbled marble-topped bar from Fremont borders the living room. (Click image to enlarge)
The backdrop for the house—blue skies and rocky terrain—complement its indoor/outdoor design. A wishing well was erected in front of the entryway; an antique-looking bucket hangs at an angle from its wrought iron canopy top. The rope that runs from the bucket to the water camouflages a plastic tube that shoots water into the bucket, which then sends water cascading into the well.
The home took two years to complete. The process began with Ochoa and his clients poring over photographs of old haciendas and missions. “It’s not just about what you see in a beautiful picture, but what you smell, hear and feel. All the senses should be involved in such a space,” the architect told them, paraphrasing his idol, architect Luis Barragan. The owner felt an instant connection to the sentiment and says that of all the things the architect said that day, he remembers this the most.
Jack Knox Interior Designs
760.564.2486
Juan Carlos Ochoa
760.773.6605
www.ochoadesign.com
