Appleton Partners LLP

SANTA MONICA AND SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Willow Creek Horse Ranch

San Diego, California

This seventy-acre property was assembled from several existing residential estate properties, and our clients, who raise cutting horses, were not enamored by the late twentiethcentury suburban Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture typical of the area. They wanted something more unique that would still be in the Spanish tradition, but reminiscent of a rural ranch.

The solution took inspiration from the Spanish hacienda or finca, similar to those in Andalusia, Spain, and later colonized as “estancias” or “ranchos” in California and Latin America. Spanish hacienda architecture occasionally inspired the work of early twentieth-century California architects like John Byers and Wallace Neff, particularly for ranch and equestrian clients in more remote settings. The challenge here, in the context of surrounding suburban houses, however, was to create a sense of separation and rural wilderness.

As there was the acreage to accomplish it, the answer was to create a layered landscape of meadows and trees at the perimeter to successfully screen the adjacent suburban development and create a sense of depth with a forest edge. The meadows were moved to create a series of riding trails and paths.

High courtyard walls were designed around the main ranch house, reminiscent of the cortile of Andalusian and Mexican haciendas, which served as an entry court from the long, gated driveway lined with California pepper trees. A water trough for horses extends from the house entry porch cross axially to connect the house with outbuildings and pastures.

The development of the ranch (begun in 2004 and completed in 2009) included multiple accessory structures to appear as if they were built over the life of the ranch, with some showing their age more than others. In some cases pre-existing buildings, such as a horse barn, were repurposed but with architectural changes to make them more compatible with the hacienda vocabulary.

The overall planning of the ranch included defined exterior spaces ranging from an entry grove, tree-lined allee, courtyards, and walled gardens, which helped to knit together the sprawling ranch structures. The total building area was approximately 18,000 square feet (main house complex) with additional accessory structures. The main residence was oriented to engage as much of the ranch as possible, with extensive covered porches surrounding the building perimeter, allowing spaces to extend outside. The plan of the main ranch house had a linear configuration; a formal gallery connected the two private ends with the more public rooms in the middle. The second story was devoted to a primary bedroom suite facing the rear, with a study “tower” on the front side. A simple materials palette of white painted plaster, wood, and terra-cotta tile created a consistent and harmonious whole.