Homes & Habitats

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HOM E S HA B I TAT S

SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE THE HOMES & WILDLIFE OF THE SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE

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HOM E S HA B I TAT S

SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE

THE HOMES & WILDLIFE OF THE SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE

Introduction HOMES & HABITATS

The Santa Lucia Preserve approach to community design reflects the belief that the genuine value of these 20,000 acres of land lies in its beauty, vastness and richness.

The Preserve is a community dedicated to appreciating and respecting the natural beauty of its geographical, historical and cultural setting. Members of the community seek to gently settle, share and enjoy the land by protecting, maintaining and enhancing its natural resources and wildlife.

When building, the main goal is to ensure that homes and related site improvements are subordinate to the land, to both preserve and enhance the surrounding natural landscape. Each home is responsive to its site setting, including the landforms, landscape zone and climate, and draw from regional building traditions. All improvements embody the spirit of California’s indigenous and rural architectural traditions, while utilizing contemporary, sustainable materials and construction methods. Home and site designs focus on capturing views, creating privacy and taking advantage of the Mediterranean climate to blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. Successful designs have in common a rural simplicity, regional character and use of exterior materials that help nestle the home into, rather than dominate, the landscape.

Given the core values upon which The Preserve was founded and as captured in the Design Guidelines and related community documents – owners, architects and builders have produced unique home and landscape designs that are truly inspiring and grounded in these principles.

Together these designs exemplify an extraordinary community that is creating an architectural and conservation legacy for future generations. This book honors these accomplishments. “Homes & Habitats” collects these unique design stories, as told by owners and/or their design team and organizes them by the habitat in which they are located. The Santa Lucia Conservancy’s Senior Ecologist, Dr. Christy Wyckoff, expounds on the wildlife within each of these distinct habitats.

This book is for members to share with guests and the larger conservation community to celebrate the ongoing evolution of this community within a preserve.

01 GRASSLAND WILDLIFE & HOMES

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Grassland Wildlife ANIMALS, PLANTS & LANDSCAPE

The signature golden hills of California emerge as the weather warms. Lush green shifts to shades of gold and tan along rolling topography. When the rains return the land reverses this color pattern, bursting again into a brilliant green. During the spring warmth, wildflowers emerge from blankets of grass to sprinkle brilliant colors along the hillsides. Ponds, originally created for grazing cattle, provide a cool and necessary refuge for native amphibians.

Hilltops and south-facing bluffs may look simple and uniform, but their appearance belies immense complexity. Compared to woodlands, grasslands hold complexity at a smaller scale, but a closer look reveals the diversity of the native perennial bunch grasses, wildflowers and wildlife that depend on this landscape.

Grasslands of The Preserve support some of the most rare and iconic species. The ever-smiling California tiger salamander and wide-eyed California red-legged frog move to the ponds each winter to find a mate and keep their lineage alive. As the grasslands transition from green to brown, salamanders and frogs seek shelter from the sun in the cool underground retreat of ground squirrel burrows. In the damp mazes of the underground burrows, they join hundreds of other species of animals and insects seeking similar shelter. The ground squirrels engineer an underground world used by many other animals and feed beloved species such as Northern harrier hawks, golden eagles and bobcats. Grasses flow and ripple as the breeze moves across the hills, lifting the outstretched wings of a hawk hunting for dinner.

The complexity of the grassland resides in the relationships each creature has with the next.

Whether for food or shelter, the animals depend on the success of each other. The Preserve community is part of this complexity. It is dependent on the rain water wending its way through the burrows deep into the earth, the grasses holding and stabilizing the rolling hills and the wildflowers painting a canvas to delight the eye.

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California tiger salamander

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Johnny jump-up violets

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California red-legged frog

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Northern harrier hawk

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California ground squirrel Photos by Christy Wyckoff

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Grassland 01 GRASSLAND HOMES

Nestled among the hills of The Preserve, this casual weekend getaway—a modern farmhouse comprised of gabled structures and flat-topped galleries under a zinc roof—celebrates its extraordinary setting at every turn.

The main spine of the house was carefully sited to align with the most prominent redwood on the property. There are large expanses of windows so that views of the mountain range would be visible from every room, as well as from the swimming pool, perched dramatically on the hillside. Common areas such as the living room, dining room and entryway flow seamlessly to outdoor living spaces. The minimalist palette of materials— local stone, recycled barn wood, zinc and planted roofs— encompass the entirety of the place, helping to create the impression that the house somehow emerged from the landscape.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Ken Linsteadt Architects

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Paul Dyer

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Grassland 02 GRASSLAND HOMES

The home is nestled in gently sloping grasslands at the top of a hill with expansive views in all directions.

The parcel features a mature valley oak at its center. The home consists of five rectangular buildings, three of which ring the valley oak and root the property to the land. The shape of the structures and their roofline are inspired by the simple agricultural buildings found throughout central California. The configuration of the structures create a three-sided courtyard— a nod to the Hacienda style.

The interior of each building features exposed structural steel roof trusses. The trusses as well as the steel windows found throughout the home are inspired by a barn in the Hudson Valley that was designed by McKim, Mead & White, early in the twentieth century. All of the buildings have large window areas that blend the interiors to the exterior environment.

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ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Soldano Luth Architects

Judy Davison Interior Design

Jason Liske

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Grassland 03 GRASSLAND HOMES

Many people are familiar with this home, owing to its place on the 13th fairway, but not so many know the genesis of this classically composed California house.

From the beginning, the owners wanted a house that looked of its time— one in which was at home in California and on The Preserve, that fit comfortably into its natural setting and provided generous outdoor spaces for living and entertaining.

Composed in cedar with deep porches, the house sits right at the transition between hillside and meadow, at the edge of oak trees. Spacious both on the inside and outside, with interior spaces yielding to native gardens. Careful handling of its scale and materials allow the house to blend naturally into the grassy slopes, while a well-placed stone wall defines the homes boundary and provides privacy. Expansive but sheltered windows afford sweeping views while accommodating more private, contemporary interiors.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Richard Beard Architects

Lutsko Associates

Matthew Millman

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Grassland 04 GRASSLAND HOMES

We wanted a home that would look and feel natural and strong, as well as be low maintenance, fireproof and sustainable.

Using Texas limestone, rusted cold rolled steel, bronze windows, slate roof tiles, and energy producing geo-thermal and solar, we achieved these goals. The pavilion-style architecture, angled in ten-degree rotations, captures the light while encompassing unique views from each room.

A semi-open floor plan allows for easy movement and interaction with guests, while maintaining distinctly elegant rooms.

The extensive use of mahogany for doors, cabinetry and panels, provide the warmth we wanted to balance a contemporary design. The wood floor material is Merbau, selected for its beauty and stability over radiant floor heat. The gallery, entry, bath floors and showers are Jura Beige limestone. We selected colors from the surrounding nature to bring some of the peacefulness of The Preserve indoors.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Stuart Silk Architects

Tito Patri & Associates

Nancy Ralston Design

Wayne Holden

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Grassland 05 GRASSLAND HOMES

The rolling topography, views and three signature oak trees dictated the design of this rustic California ranch that very gently rests on the site.

The floor plan was arranged to provide both an indoor and outdoor flow to create distinctively different courtyards and water features on all four sides. In the center of the home, an openair living room with large sliding glass doors merge with expansive views to the south— as the majestic landscape surrounding the fire tower moves into one dramatic space. A rustic stone from Montana combined with stucco, iron and heavy timbers, give this a home an ageless and natural character.

The guest cabin is meant to appear as one of the original structures on the ranch. It’s nestled under a large oak and is reminiscent to a haven built by some of the early settlers. From the moss-covered stone walls on the exterior to the wide plank white oak walls, ceilings and floors on the interior, this 1,200 square foot cabin truly allows one to step back in time. Complete with a saloon door in the shower, created from an old horse stall, rusted lantern sconces and the authentic cowboy décor, this cabin has a sense of history— making it a very special place.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Carlson Design Group

Arterra Landscaping

Dawn Williams

David Wakely

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Grassland 06 GRASSLAND HOMES

Set into the hillside, amongst the native flora of the Santa Lucia Preserve, this home sits atop 52 acres above Carmel Valley.

At almost 2,000 feet above sea level, the design captures panoramic views of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Carmel Valley, Carmel Bay and Monterey Bay. The approach to the home follows the natural contours and wraps around the hilltop to reveal the house and underground garage. The house moves with the topography as it follows the natural contours and nestles into the site.

A series of axial views link the spaces visually within the house. The context of the architecture and natural landscape is apparent in every room, seamlessly connecting the interior space to the outside. As the building steps down the hillside, a combination of gable and shed roofs express the natural contours of the site. Here, the design maximizes daytime lighting and solar shading while supporting photovoltaic panels. The outdoor spaces integrate instinctively with the native landscaping, as the pool, guesthouse and spa allow for the natural setting to encroach in and around the developed areas. The house immerses itself into the site, blurring the boundaries of developed areas and the open, feral surroundings, inspiring harmony with the environment.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Duxbury Architects

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Russell Abraham

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Grassland 07 GRASSLAND HOMES

The owners worked with Loren Kroeger of Backen Gillam & Kroeger Architects in St. Helena, to create a rustic modern residence terraced into three and a half acres of sloping hills.

This four bedroom, four and a half bathroom residence climbs naturally up the hillside to take advantage of the unobstructed views of the surrounding valleys. The property is divided from the main house to the west and the guest wing to the east— both connected by a series of stone terraces, patios and courtyards. These outdoor rooms effortlessly combine the interior architecture with the exterior structure beyond, while rooting the residence firmly into the landscape.

Highlights include a spectacular view to the west framed by 10-foot-high sliding steel doors, an accompanying terrace with a large fire pit, a hidden spa adjacent to the master bathroom, stone fireplaces, private offices and an exercise room. Natural materials of stone, wood and concrete blend the home into its gently seated location of indigenous grasses and shrubs by Michelle Comeau. Interior Designer Michael Duffy worked with Backen Gillam and Leslie Hemmings, to create a minimal and serene space within. Here, a unique palette encompassing rugs, paintings and furniture work together to compliment the modern sensibility and clean lines of the plaster walls, the wood beams and ceilings, and the polished concrete floors.

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INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Backen Gillam Kroeger Architects

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Michael Duffy

John Merkl

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Grassland 08 GRASSLAND HOMES

Crow’s Corner is an apt name for this single-family residence designed around a tree-topped knoll.

The home affords sweeping views up the valley to the south and around to Monterey Bay. Crow’s Corner takes advantage not only of outstanding views, but also of the sun. As it moves throughout the day, past courtyards and terraces, sunlight spreads throughout the home’s inside and outside spaces.

A nod to historical materials from organic elements, the main house is made of stone with a clay barrel tile roof. The outbuildings – a stable for beloved family horses, guest house and caretaker’s home – are clad in reclaimed barn wood and rusted corten metal roofs. Together, the structures form the backbone for a series of courtyards and open spaces at this family compound. The family— avid world travelers— incorporate their memories into the décor of the various guest rooms. This whimsy winds its way up into the chimney tops, with each chimney different from another, further engraving a unique character into the home.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Michal Venera

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Ponds, originally created for grazing cattle, provide cool and necessary refuge for native amphibians.

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Photo by Allen Kennedy 21

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Grassland 09 GRASSLAND HOMES

On a 15-acre property high in the mountains with views of Monterey Bay, this 6,200-square foot private residence is a Western retreat for its New York and Pennsylvania-based owners.

As a ‘contemporary hacienda’, the home wraps around a landscaped central courtyard with an outdoor fireplace and water feature. The residence relies on broad, stone terraces to take advantage of commanding vistas. The design juxtaposes traditional materials such as stone and stucco with more contemporary elements like standing-seam metal roofs and expansive glass openings— bridging the gap between traditional California architecture and modern design.

Creating multiple places for entertaining was a guiding aspiration for this home. With its doubleheight entry foyer, the area opens into a spacious dining room to welcome guests. An adjacent vaulted great room flowing into the kitchen and family room offers additional entertaining space for visitors. Two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms complete the main house. Tucked into the hillside behind the main house, a detached 1,200 square foot cottage provides two additional private bedrooms for guests.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

David Duncan Livingston, Allen Kennedy

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Grassland 10 GRASSLAND HOMES

This hacienda style home tucks intimately into the oaks on a sloping view lot.

This house was strategically designed to enhance panoramic views of distant hills and set naturally into the land. The motor court, garage, master bedroom and main living spaces are situated on one level running along the existing grade to minimize retaining walls, aid in the ease of use and reduce grading.

The secondary bedrooms step up the hillside and display private gardens on the uphill facing side. While the office library steps down with the grade and has a covered terrace. The hacienda’s great room opens onto a large terrace towards sweeping landscape views. The terrace’s fire pit and outdoor kitchen flows naturally down to the garden. The kitchen is on axis with the great room and has an attached family room for small gatherings. A daylight basement is convenient as a game room, workshop and storage space.

The combination of materials selected to build this residence – handmade terra cotta roof tiles, local stone and hand forged ironwork – meld the exterior effortlessly into the natural surrounding beauty.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom Meaney Architects

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Morgan Eklund

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Grassland 11 GRASSLAND HOMES

This house was designed by the late St. Helena-based architect Andrew Batey.

Andrew had always been inspired by the great neoclassical buildings of Europe. His aesthetic was a contemporary take on those buildings as he aimed to bring their quiet, balanced symmetry and order into the present day. His vision evolved into the creation of his last house.

This home was inspired by the French fortifications built by Marechel Vauban for Louis XIV during the 17th Century. These simple, yet strong fortifications are very contemporary in their look. Here, that expression is seen in the sloped exterior walls of the guest house and the main house’s spare oval drive court and garage pavilions. Emphasizing the classical symmetry of this house is the alignment of the main drive and house with the site’s most prominent oak tree beyond. It’s a delightful surprise that the interior floods with light from a curved skylight along the inside of the courtyard wall.

The rooms of the main house are symmetrically placed along the back of the house with French doors opening up to sweeping views. The exterior materials of the house – straw colored limestone plaster, solid bronze doors and windows, and a lead roof -- naturally blend into the wilderness.

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ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrew Batey Architect

ODA Design Associates

Matthew Millman, Laura Resen

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Grassland 12 GRASSLAND HOMES

The main entrance to this Carmel Valley residence is accessed through a walled courtyard and under a towering oak.

The approach is on axis with the entry gate, front door and out towards the living room’s dramatic mountain view. The courtyard is anchored by a mature oak and features a wall fountain placed on the exterior stairs, leading to the second floor guest rooms. The main living and master suite are placed on the lower level and have covered porches which connect to the courtyard, gardens and the rearview terrace. The communal kitchen and dining space expand on to a screened porch and tall, corner windows over the sink capture an amazing view. Nearby, a detached guest house helps define the rear terrace area. A covered porch affords a charming setting to take in the mountain vistas near a fire pit and tiled fountain.

Much care was taken in the details and selection of finishes, to enhance the scale and quality of the home, focusing primarily on simplicity and authenticity. Some of the elements selected include brushed cedar windows, handmade terra cotta roof and flooring tiles, hand forged iron, custom leaded glass and hand painted ceramic tiles.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom Meaney Architects

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Lepere Studios

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02 WO ODLAND WILDLIFE & HOMES

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

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Woodland Wildlife ANIMALS, PLANTS & LANDSCAPE

A mosaic of woodlands blanket more than half of The Preserve. Sheltered valleys and northfacing hillsides host wide-spreading canopies of evergreen coast live oak forests, sprinkled with California bay, Pacific madrones and bigleaf maple trees. Tucked between the hills where it is cooler and wetter, towering redwoods, the tallest trees on earth, may be found growing beside an understory of tanoaks and California-bays. Weaving through the hills and valleys of this landscape are riparian gallery forests filled with regal California sycamores, twisting California buckeyes, alders and a variety of willows.

Sheltered beneath the canopy and soft leafy covering, the forest floor hosts a variety of wildlife wonders that are rarely glimpsed. Light dances on the forest floor as leaves and branches move above. In some places, trees stand close together to provide hideaways for the forest’s wildlife to sleep. In others, trees stand proud and isolated, spaced out with long avenues of wildlife trails winding throughout. Endangered steelhead trout flit from shadow to rock in any of the six creeks that flow through The Preserve. Along these creeks, tucked under leaves and logs, live dozens of species of native amphibians (frogs, toads, newts and salamanders) and insects, living out their secretive lives. Announced only by their hooves in the leaf litter, Columbia black-tailed deer move across the land nibbling on green shoots and lichen hanging from the trees. Though easy to see in open grasslands, the deer seem to disappear in forested landscape, seeking shelter from the elements and finding water and abundant food in the diverse forest. The quiet and lucky observer may glimpse the tawny coat or lengthy tail of a mountain lion as it moves along seeking deer. Each piece of this system is like a puzzle piece, connected and building off the next component, supporting the food web and the natural cycles. The Preserve gives the gift of beauty to each guest and resident who takes a moment to look.

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Steelhead trout

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California buckeye in bloom

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Monterey ensatina salamander

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Columbia black-tailed deer

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Mountain lion Photos by Christy Wyckoff, Christy Fischer, Chris Wilson, and Santa Lucia Conservancy 33

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 01 WOODLAND HOMES

Located on a nature preserve in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the site of oak forests and steep meadows strongly impacted and inspired Feldman Architecture’s design.

In order to reduce the impact of the home’s size and to preserve views, the building settles into the ground and overhanging roofs are planted with tall native grasses. The house is also divided into a series of pavilions to lessen its overall mass. After passing through an entry grove, visitors can see distant views between and over the various building elements. As they are drawn into the widening scenery, they follow the tree-lined ridge to a large terrace that serves as an outdoor living room for the house.

Nearly every room has wide doors that open to the land— allowing the modest home to feel much more spacious. Knowing that the home would primarily be used by the homeowners, without their children or guests, the two guest bedrooms are pulled away from the main house.

To further tie the house to the land, a natural palette of wood and concrete with weathered steel accents is incorporated throughout the house.

In addition to the house blending seamlessly into the landscape, the living roofs allow rain water to be absorbed on-site and ensures the house remains cool in hot summer months. Large windows expose the concrete floors and retaining walls to the morning sun, resulting in minimal need for artificial heat. Skylights with integrated photovoltaic cells produce a soft, filtered light while also helping to power the house. Environmentally sensitive building materials such as sustainably harvested lumber and insulation made from denim manufacturing waste were incorporated throughout the home. Lastly, large meadows adjacent to the house, were replanted with drought tolerant and fire-resistant native grasses and wildflowers.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Feldman Architecture

Blasen Landscape Architecture

Paul Dyer

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 02 WOODLAND HOMES

The site’s intimate setting of tall redwood trees and a gurgling brook inspired the design of this farm-like contemporary home.

This beautiful building tucks into the woods, using the tree canopy as its main source of shading.

Extensive amounts of glass and a soft color palette keep the home light, while stained rough sawn cedar boards and a corten metal roof contrast with the surrounding redwood landscape.

After a short drive through pastures and woods, one arrives at the tower-like main entry.

Inside, the spacious foyer leads to the living room and its vaulted ceiling. Glass elements keep the dining and living areas casual and comfortable for simple entertaining. The bedroom wing houses the master bedroom, study loft, and three additional bedrooms which open to the terrace and swimming pool. The entry tower provides access to a unique loft bunk room on the second floor and further above to a ‘crow’s nest’ reading loft, surrounded by windows with natural sunlight pouring in.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Wayne Capili

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 03 WOODLAND HOMES

California embodies the idea of the Great American West with its rolling hills, open plains and rich farmland, stretching along the Pacific coast.

It is a region rich with history and tradition which inspired a home that fused the romantic past with a contemporary experience. This can be seen in the dining room floor which is overed in tiles made from vintage cowboy belts and decorated with souvenir plates of the region. The counterpoint incorporated here was a crystal chandelier and handmade chairs with leather accents.

The master bedroom is anchored with a raw edge headboard made from a tree that fell on the site, reinforcing the idea of geographic decorating and blurring the lines between the exterior and interior spaces. Throughout the house a neutral color palette is enlivened with splashes of color and design. Joni Janecki transformed the rear courtyard into a magical playground, using the surrounding forest as a muse.

The overriding concept was to create a home that felt like it has grown over generations. Using new and vintage pieces to create an eclectic collection, adding to the aesthetic of The Preserve and to a piece of California’s rich history.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Eric Miller Architects

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Mark Cutler Design

Brandon McGanty

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Woodland 04 WOODLAND HOMES

Siting was influenced by its prominent view from Rancho San Carlos Road and the Equestrian Center, which called for a tasteful, well-proportioned, but dramatic structure that would fit into the contour of the hillside and surrounding trees.

The house displays a tiered structure that steps up from the guest wing to the front entrance on the west end. Through a grand gallery the house moves seamlessly into the great room and kitchen, a space located on the east end of the house in order to take advantage of the morning sun.

The style of the house, while rooted in the early California-Spanish Colonial tradition, promotes clean, contemporary lines and open airy indoor and outdoor spaces with large windows to take in breathtaking views. The home utilizes arched door and window openings, a Spanish tiled roof with wide eaves and no gutters, deep stucco walls and tile work reminiscent of the period. The shared living spaces of the house – including the gallery, great room and office tower – feature open beamed ceilings. It was important to maintain structural integrity by exposing actual supporting beams and trusses, rather than faux structures.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Richard Rhodes Architecture

Hart Howerton

Carol Oliva Photography

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A mosaic of woodlands blanket more than half of The Preserve.

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Photo by Allen Kennedy 43

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 05 WOODLAND HOMES

The overriding intention for this modern two-story family home centered on achieving an intimate connection between the ‘L’ shaped residence and its setting within a rolling hillside.

Siting the home carefully amidst old growth oaks and framing views architecturally, the connection to nature is reflected by an abundance of vistas that capture the rolling hills, wild life and broad valley views. From nearly every aspect of the house the inner and outer environments are seamlessly connected.

The entrance to the home is achieved beneath an enclosed second story bridge that connects the main living areas to the master suite. The compressed stair sequence travels under the bridge upward, revealing a sunny courtyard adjacent to the main residence, separate guest wing and outdoor living spaces. Materials such as concrete, weathered steel and natural cedar mirror the site’s native textural and color palette while floor-to-ceiling glass completes the building envelope, connecting the tree canopy to the landscape.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Sagan Piechota Architecture

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Daniel Piechota

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 06 WOODLAND HOMES

Atop a ridge in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Carmel, California, an oak tree stands elevated above the fog and wrapped at its base is this ranch retreat.

The weekend home’s design grew around the 100-year-old valley oak to form a horseshoeshaped house that gathers ridgeline views of oak, madrone and redwood groves and nestles around the tree at its center. The home’s orientation offers both the shade of the oak canopy in the courtyard and the sun flowing into the great room at the house’s rear façades.

This modern take on a traditional ranch home offers contemporary materials and landscape to a classic typology. From the main entry in the courtyard, one enters the home’s great room and immediately experiences the dramatic westward views across the 70-foot pool at the house’s rear.

Flow and connectivity were incorporated into the design of the expansive communal area.

Kitchen windows face the courtyard and dining room doors slide seamlessly into the wall to create an outdoor dining pavilion. The primary circulation axes flank the internal courtyard, anchoring the house to its site and heightening the sense of scale by extending views outward at each of the corridor’s ends. Guest suites, complete with private kitchen and living room, as well as the garage are housed in auxiliary wings and connected to the main house by covered walkways.

Pre-weathered corrugated steel cladding, buff limestone walls and large aluminum apertures combined with an interior palette of cedar-clad ceilings, oil-rubbed steel and exposed concrete floors soften the modern aesthetics into a refined but rugged ranch home.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Feldman Architecture

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Toni Ambus Design

Joe Fletcher

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 07 WOODLAND HOMES

Two California craftsman buildings joined together by a wide veranda form this 9,200 square foot residence.

Taking advantage of panoramic views toward Monterey and the Pacific Ocean, the main living wing sits atop the gently sloping northeast hillside and stretches out to the grassy meadow below.

Expansive windows spill out onto balconies and terraces, offering an array of outdoor experiences. The connecting breezeway anchors together the wings and acts as a spacious outdoor living room complete with a rich artisan fireplace. Due to extremely steep slopes and a desire to preserve the existing live oak trees, carefully laid stone for retaining walls and piers became a main building material. Together with timber columns and beams, multiple clay tile roofs and ochre stucco features, the house pays homage to the area’s deep Spanish history.

Lively tile and intricate wooden details complete the comfortable space inside.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Michal Venera, Matthew Millman

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 08 WOODLAND HOMES

As a traditional California Ranch House, this home reflects the resident’s desire for an informal, family-oriented lifestyle.

Broad roof overhangs, an outdoor hearth and wide expanses of windows allow for relaxed indoor-outdoor living. Two sheltered, south facing courtyards frame the building as it nestles among numerous oak trees on the site. The central entry court transitions space between the circular drive and the interiors. The main living areas and principal bedrooms open out to views of Stillwater Cove to the northwest and the mountains to the southwest and southeast. The second court, found at the end of a footpath bordered by native plants, features a swimming pool and terraces for entertainment.

Drawing on Native American and West coast craftsman traditions, the interiors are a nod to rustic elegance— perfect for family-style entertaining. The standalone fireplace in the middle of the great room anchors and divides the space into more intimate living and dining areas.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Scavullo Design

Matthew Millman, David Wakely, Paul Dyer

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Tucked between the hills where it is cooler and wetter, towering redwoods, the tallest trees on earth, may be found.

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Photo by Kristin Setliff 53

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 09 WOODLAND HOMES

This residence, reminiscent to a cabin in its simplicity and detailing, is for a couple and their beloved dog.

This one and a half story, 5,000 square foot house stretches unobtrusively across a ridge with sweeping views of the mountains to the east, west and south. The Arts and Crafts tradition inspired the low sweep of the roof and the softening effect of turned-up eaves. Lending the architecture to be traditionally referenced, while still connecting to the site in a relaxed and natural manner. The home is reminiscent to a cabin in its simplicity and detailing.

The Suzman Cole landscaping is naturalized on the borders and civilized within the deer fenced courtyard entry. The client’s 19th Century American painting collection is combined with Native American and Japanese basket collections, an antique Persian rug collection and practical, pet friendly upholstery. One feels released upon entering The Preserve— a feeling which continues through to the moment of relaxing in front of the fire. *Parts of the above passage was taken from Walker, Anne; “Peter Pennoyer Architects – Apartments, Townhouses, Country Houses”; The Vendome Press, NY; 2010

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ARCHITECT

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INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Peter Pennoyer Architects

Suzman Cole

The Wiseman Group

Matthew Millman

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 10 WOODLAND HOMES

The owners set out to create a highly liveable house that takes full advantage of the incredible natural beauty of The Preserve, and a house that is deeply rooted in local architectural traditions.

The creation was a newly-constructed hacienda inspired by those of the Spanish Colonial period.

At the heart of this hacienda is a fully enclosed courtyard, where a lush garden offers a private retreat. Arranged around the courtyard are the main residence and a gatehouse. All of the main rooms in the residence can look both inward to the quiet of the courtyard and outward to the sweeping mountain vistas, as well as to the ocean nestled off to the west. The focal point of the residence is the soaring great room centered on the courtyard— and housed within an antique barn frame that was re-assembled on site.

Inspiration for the architectural detailing came from surviving Spanish Colonial structures, such as the Carmel Mission. Period details were studied and authentically recreated. Where possible, salvaged building materials were used both on the interior and exterior— roof tiles, floor boards, decorative metalwork— which gives the house a richness of character that is hard to create otherwise.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

INTERIOR DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Fletcher + Hardoin

Ron Herman Landscape Architects

BD Design Group

Margot Hartford

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 11 WOODLAND HOMES

As you approach the home, enter the building and move through the rooms, you continually discover elements that reinforce the sense of a timeless family retreat.

Our clients were looking for a multi-generational family retreat. We worked with them to create a rustic resort that incorporated strong connections between the interior spaces, courtyards and landscapes.

The project began by creating a great room that was based on a timber frame structural system.

This exposed timber-construct gives the room a casually elegant interior space, while allowing us to open the north and south sides to both courtyards and the vistas beyond. To create sophisticated rustic continuity throughout the home, all of the main rooms were timber framed, producing a variety of ceilings. Some are timber and wood, others are timber and plaster. Based on proportions of the rooms, beam sizes and ceiling heights were carefully balanced to instill a sense of scale.

What retreat is complete without a family event barn? We placed the timber framed structure high on the land, so we could slide the barn doors open and view the long vista to the north.

The interior was designed to reflect country elegance at its finest. The artwork and furnishings suggest a unique family heritage, with pieces collected over the span of a lifetime.

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INTERIOR DESIGNER

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Eric Miller Architects

Melanie Giolitti

Russell Abraham

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 12 WOODLAND HOMES

This home seemingly grows out of its landscape. The linear building floats along the hillside and takes advantage of sweeping views of the rolling hills beyond.

Inspired by Arts & Crafts’ timeless designs, the residence is made up of warm wooden interiors, a shallow slate gable roof, and a stone foundation that both announce and anchor the home. A fine tuning scale with the surrounding landscape was a key goal in the design of this home. To ensure a seamless integration, shingle cladding and rich wooden trellises emphasize the home’s horizontal presence and blur the edges between building and site. Moments of red trim offer visitors unexpected bursts of color.

The open living and dining areas on the main floor spill out onto an expansive deck space. The deck acts as an outdoor room, connecting the guest wing to the main residence. Stepping down at the north end of the building, one finds a secluded study hiding in the hillside, the ideal spot for quiet contemplation.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Paul Dyer

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The Preserve gives the gift of beauty to each guest and resident who takes a moment to look.

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Photo by Allen Kennedy 63

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Woodland 13 WOODLAND HOMES

The owners of this property shared the story of a perfect evening spent in an Italian courtyard, where the only sound was the running water from an ancient fountain.

That was the idea that inspired this home’s design. At the center of this site is a small clearing in a redwood and oak forest that was simply perfect for a fountain to weave its magical spell.

The home is nestled in this clearing and wraps around a fountain courtyard with three connected wings and a separate office-library. The entry to the house and courtyard pass through a covered exterior space into the fountain court. Above the shuttered entry, built of hand-laid Carmel stone, is a private office where one can observe the arrival of friends. The interior stairway winds upstairs and is overlooked by windows from lofts in the children’s bedrooms. The spell is continued by the wealth of detail: from the sturdiness of thick stone-like walls and solid wood beam work, to the charming tile work of terra cotta herringbone and Moroccan mosaic.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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John Malick & Associates

Jonathan Plant & Associates

Russell Abraham

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 14 WOODLAND HOMES

A timeless masterpiece of hacienda architecture.

With its enchanting entrance over a private bridge and San Clemente Creek winding below, this classic Arthur Valdes designed hacienda offers complete privacy, yet is only minutes to the acclaimed Preserve golf course.

High quality construction and seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces make this home an authentic Carmel Valley delight. Nearby the Santa Lucia Preserve’s world class amenities including: The Hacienda, the social heartbeat of The Preserve; 20,000 acres of permanently protected nature; one of the greatest golf courses in the country; 18-acre Moore’s Lake; a fabulous equestrian center; and 100-miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The Preserve encompasses the ultimate coastal California get away.

Carmel stone, reclaimed timber and Cantera columns add the finishing touches to the exterior and a nice compliment to a pristine audio and lighting system.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Arthur Valdes Company

Girvin Associates

Flash Gallery

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 15 WOODLAND HOMES

On this wild, oak covered ridge, the home was created to look in two directions— inward to a quiet, protected courtyard and outward, to the magnificent forest and hilltop horizons Sited on 28 acres overlooking the Potrero Canyon this private estate, close to the gate and a short drive to town, provides the best of both indoor and outdoor living in the Santa Lucia Preserve.

The light filled home offers four-bedroom suites, formal living and dining rooms, two offices, expansive gardens, pool and spa.

The entry includes a welcoming rose-filled courtyard and a secluded outdoor dining area with wood-burning fireplace set off from the large chef ’s kitchen. The back patio features an outdoor fire pit perfect for entertaining and offering spectacular sunset views. Ideal for entertaining guests, this private country estate encapsulates Preserve living.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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Tichenor & Thorp Architecture

Kuni Landscaping

Wayne Capili

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Woodland 16 WOODLAND HOMES

Casa que Canta (House that Sings) pays homage to the early Spanish history of the Santa Lucia Preserve and the Mediterranean climate among which it sits.

The homes Spanish Colonial Revival style was inspired by the works of Architect George Washington Smith in the early 1900s. Surrounded by native grasses and trees of The Preserve, the house reveals its Spanish origins upon entering the gravel forecourt, where a 200-year-old freestanding stone well sits at its center. The form of the house, with its old-world stucco walls, salvaged terra-cotta roof, prominent stair turret, and wrought iron balconies, blends with the formal outdoor living area to create a beautiful presence in the surrounding landscape. Elegant shadows are cast in the afternoon light, and views from the inside and out sweep toward the hills and majestic redwoods of The Preserve.

Inside the house are 100-year-old wood beams, hand-troweled plaster walls, decorative iron light fixtures, and Moorish influences common to the Spanish Colonial style. All of these details are equally matched with Spanish Colonial style furniture. Sitting inside, it is easy for one to imagine they are in another time. In fact, listening carefully, one may hear the echoes of Spanish flamenco guitar music as they look out through the arched doors of the main salon to the natural setting of The Preserve beyond.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

International Design Group & Fergus Garber Young

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Bernardo Grijalva

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Endangered steelhead trout flit from shadow to rock in any of the six creeks that flow through The Preserve.

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Photo by Allen Kennedy 73

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 17 WOODLAND HOMES

Past its thick entry gates, a wide court welcomes visitor to this mission-style residence.

Set atop a grassy panoramic ridge, the home, called Pioneer Camp, honors its surrounding landscape through soft plaster walls, rough-hewn wood, and a lush array of native plants. There’s a balance here between refuge and prospect— between a timeless haven for reflection and a bustling space for entertaining.

Two terraces adorn the home on its east side. The first one, smaller and more contemplative, flows into the main living space and out onto the second more public, outdoor porch and veranda, finally ending at the fountain courtyard. Here, playful stone and grass paving seamlessly integrate the outdoor rooms together.

The theme of a safe sanctuary carries into the home through an emphasis on heavy timber and bowed elements. The brick barrel ceiling in the kitchen and family room, as well as arched hallway openings and a curved window wall in the master bedroom, speak to a refined yet varying sense of space. Each window purposely frames a different view of the surrounding site to create moments of surprise and delight. Eclectic collectables from far flung cultures around the world further infuse a layer of rich history into the home.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Paul Dyer

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 18 WOODLAND HOMES

The home is designed to respect many of the principles of a Farmhouse and Ranch complex.

Indoor and outdoor residency coupled with living main areas are rooted at the level of the exterior grade. This allows for inside spaces to expand outside, both visually and physically through natural openings, perimeter verandas and patios.

The home is linear and simple in its form— a style which provides very structured massing and roofs. Continuous horizontal lines of the roof ridges, as well as overhangs and column lines at the porches, help to provide a uniform design. Natural materials of horizontal board and boardand-batt siding, wood trim, wood beams and posts, a metal roof with low profile battens and stone chimneys, help to tie this home to the landscape and blend into its surroundings. The focal point of the home is the great room space that is the center for living, entertainment, cooking, dining and relaxing.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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Paul Davis Partnership

Katherine Klawans Smith

Christine Bush

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Woodland 19 WOODLAND HOMES

A retreat for eventual retirement and visits from their grown children. A sanctuary befitting the natural beauty of the Santa Lucia Preserve.

The clients were meticulous in the selection of the site, searching for two years for a spectacular piece of land that was flat enough to accommodate living on one level. In an initial meeting with Feldman Architecture, the clients noted their vision of butterflies alighting on the meadow site, which the architects took as inspiration.

Sitting lightly on the land, the house is divided into three pavilions that are topped by expressive butterfly roofs. Each pavilion has a separate function. The central pavilion houses the main living, dining and cooking spaces. While other two pavilions provide spaces for sleeping, bathing and relaxing. The structures are modest in size, yet each expands into an outdoor room that opens up to dramatic views of the canyon below and hills above. Beyond poetic gesture, the butterfly roofs bring in views of the surrounding hills, expand the main living spaces into the outdoors and also harvest rainwater. Each roof funnels water to a rain chain fountain and into landscape collection pools, which then gather in cisterns where it is stored and used to irrigate the landscape.

The neutral palette of the house’s concrete floors and walls, large glass openings, plywood ceilings and steel structure, flows from the indoors to outdoors. The use of concrete and large expanses of glass act to absorb warmth from the day’s sunlight, essentially releasing that heat back into the home during the night.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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Feldman Architecture

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Joe Fletcher

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03 S A VA N N A WILDLIFE & HOMES

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Savanna Wildlife

ANIMALS, PLANTS & LANDSCAPE

Oak savannas are an iconic California landscape. Proud majestic oaks stand over open rolling grasslands. In winter and spring, green carpets of new growth embrace the striking silhouettes of deciduous oaks on the precipice of growing their brilliant green leaves. In summer, as weather warms, the oak’s bright green canopy shifts to an emerald hue in striking contrast against the undulating textures of gold grasses. Three species of deciduous oaks dominate Preserve savannas: the slender and leggy black oaks, the solid and proud blue oaks, and the regal and ancient valley oaks.

Many oaks of the savannas have stood watch over these lands for centuries and have provided habitat to perching raptors, nesting cavities for owls, escape nooks for lizards and cool shade for deer. As the trees age, branches transform from green leafy expanses to caches for acorn woodpecker granaries. A family of woodpeckers will use the granary year after year, farming their acorn grubs and supporting their young each spring. When a branch separates from the tree a cavity may form, and soon that too could be used by a nesting pair of barn owls or kestrels looking for a safe space to raise a family. In surrounding grasslands, gophers and other small mammals pop up to look for a snack, at risk of becoming a stealthy bobcat’s snack themselves.

The nooks and crannies add texture and depth to the beloved landscape and also provide sustenance and quiet spaces for the wild creatures that share The Preserve. Appreciation of the complexity of this landscape enhances the experience of exploring the lands we protect together.

PICTURED 1

Acorn woodpecker

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Carpet of Lupines in the spring

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Barn owelettes in a nest box

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Bobcat on the hunt

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Well-protected nest Photos by Christy Wyckoff and Chuck Bancroft 83

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Savanna 01 SAVANNA HOMES

This home is situated close to a quiet windy road in The Preserve, which inspired the design to be a celebration of the entry Courtyard.

The massing for this romantic Mission Style home is asymmetrical in nature and organized to embrace a lush courtyard garden of colorful native plants and sparkling fountains. The courtyard itself is broken into a series of layered spaces and architectural features that create multiple focal points of interest on the front elevation. The courtyard is accentuated by two pairs of massive glass doors that visually extend the entry courtyard through the house. From the back dining patio, a signature hand carved fountain provides a stunning backdrop. Each of the main rooms are designed with three walls of windows to bring the light in, punctuated with a large arched window which frames an array of majestic oaks that gracefully surround the home. The open floorplan flows onward creating numerous opportunities for outdoor seating, dependent on the time of day and desire for shade or sun.

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INTERIOR DESIGNER

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Carlson Design Group

Miller Stein Inc.

David Wakely

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Savanna 02 SAVANNA HOMES

Located on a sloping site in the Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel Valley, the house looks onto open grassland overlooking a ranch in the valley below.

The clients wanted a compound that recalled their memories of past summers spent in the Catskills. Our solution breaks the complex up into a main house linked by an open log arcade to cabins that climb up the hill and nestle into the oak forest.

The house incorporates many sustainable materials and design features. Portions of the exterior walls are built using gunned earth (PISE), a mixture of soil excavated from the site and concrete that is sprayed against a form. The other exterior walls were built using recycled re-sawn cedar siding. The floors are recycled oak, and all other lumber used in the project are either certified or sustainably harvested. The zinc roof is non-reflective and long-lasting. The house is passively cooled, due to the mass of sprayed earth walls and properly placed operable windows which keep the indoor spaces comfortable.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Matthew Millman

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Savanna 03 SAVANNA HOMES

This guest house is the first of three structures to be built alongside a winding lane atop a ridge in The Preserve, positioned five miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.

The vast rolling topography is filled with sea breezes, warm sun, panoramic views of the Santa Lucia Mountains and a forest of ancient live oaks and madrones. Once part of a historic cattle ranch, the site is marked by a procession of three stone chimneys. The second of these chimneys rises from a long wall that acts like an ancient barrier or urban boundary, which surrounds the guest house and personal swimming pool in its own private enclosure.

The wall’s tapering edge suggests a long history, yet the architecture is distinctly modern. Here a simple, timber-framed shed springs from the stone wall and supports the naturally weathered zinc roofing over cedar-clad volumes. The guest house utilizes passive design opportunities in its temperate climate, as expansive windows provide natural lighting throughout, while a broad overhang shades the interior from the summer sun. Sliding doors and operable windows use the prevailing winds for natural ventilation, as well as expansive views of the surrounding mountain range. Wood flooring in the living spaces was reclaimed from an old barn structure.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Nic Lehoux

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Savanna 04 SAVANNA HOMES

Perched atop a saddle overlooking the Oaks studded hills, the property surrounds The Preserve golf course in one direction and the redwood forested mountains of Robinson Canyon to the south.

The home was developed as a series of courtyards that inflect around heritage oak trees that dot the saddle. The architecture of the home draws on the materials of Italian hill towns, with clay tile roofs, reclaimed brick, buff colored stone, and integral stucco of an ochre color. A gravel and cobblestone arrival court lends a welcoming entry to the home through an entry tower, which in turn leads to a spine that opens into the principal rooms of the home. The great room is capped with a rich stained wood ceiling and has breathtaking vistas to the north and south. The south facing terrace is flanked with covered porches and shaded with a generous overhanging roof and trellis. The bedroom wings form additional courtyards around existing trees, with framed views of the picturesque landscape.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Malick & Associates

Arterra Landscape Architects

David Duncan Livingston

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In winter and spring incredible green carpets of new growth embrace the striking silhouettes of deciduous oaks on the precipice of growing their brilliant green leaves.

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Photo by Allen Kennedy 93

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

Savanna 05 SAVANNA HOMES

This home design was modeled on a historic hacienda, with the house and out buildings nestled into a saddle that overlooks the main meadow in the heart of The Preserve.

The wings of the house define a series of courtyards that open to the east and west from a central entry space. The heart of the home is a gabled living room, warmed by the sun that streams in through dramatically placed fenestration. A winding staircase climbs under a circular tower to the upper private bedrooms of the home. From here, an arched bridge leads to the children’s wing with a camplike bunk room and whitewashed paneled rooms. Each space captures a vista of this unique valley— sometimes distant, sometimes just a clearing in a glade of trees, but always a gracious guest in Steinbeck’s country.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Malick & Associates

Suzman Design Associates

Russell Abraham

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Savanna 06 SAVANNA HOMES

Conceived as a modern farm complex in northern California, this house is designed for views and breezes to be maximized.

Accentuating the farm-like complex, structures are independent of the main barn. The home is comprised of different buildings and a dry stacked-stone wall that form a sanctuary, surrounded by a landscape of rolling hills and oak groves. The primary building, a partial glass and partial open-air barn, is situated on a north-south axis and takes advantage of the landscape. A vaulted ceiling supported by steel beams provides the overhead surface with a sense of regularity and lends a consistent texture that contrasts with the natural environment. The design of the master structure connects with the setting as its roof parallels the slope of the hillside. The bedroom reaches away from the house’s center with the room’s three glass walls inviting in panoramic views. An exterior corridor is defined between the buildings in which textures and materials are softened by native plants and vines. A flat-roofed glass connector forms an entry space that acts as a transition between the outdoors and indoors.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Lake Flato

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Frank Ooms

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Savanna 07 SAVANNA HOMES

The key words for the design of this house are “contemporary hacienda”.

Defined as a contemporary form, the home’s style refers to the historical origins of the hacienda tradition through the use of common materials, textures and design elements. The design uses warm colors and textured stucco, with wood and stone, rather than steel and glass to temper what would typically be assumed a high-tech aesthetic. Featured within are thick walls and openings characteristic of traditional masonry hacienda buildings.

Architectural imagery is inspired by the work of Luis Barrigan by imbuing forms that are modern but relate to traditional, regional and vernacular Mexican architecture. Accomplished through the use of materials, colors, treatment of forms and details, and their relationship to the landscape.

The stucco finish is colored and textured in a handmade manner. Another key design element is the strong relationship of interior spaces to the exterior that enhances the building’s relationship to the landscape.

On the exterior, respect for the other major oaks has figured strongly in the design. The plan accentuates the terrace and steps back, both to preserve the trees and use them to frame views from the house. Key views from the master bedroom and bath, kitchen, dining room and great room influenced the form and disposition of these pieces. Behind the unifying interior curve of the front elevation, the house has thus been designed as a series of pavilions or separate pieces, taking on the particular shapes that best suit their use, orientation to a particular view, and relationship to each other.

While the house is nestled into the hillside on the northern side, the elevations that face the golf course are screened by five majestic oaks. The principal anchoring form of the house is the large round great room. While it is a bold form, it is softened by the two large oaks it sits behind. The design uses abstract and contemporary forms that respond more dramatically to the existing landscape, as its materials adhere to the vocabulary of more traditional hacienda architecture.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Appleton Partners

Richard R. Bartley & Associates

Matt Walla

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Savanna 08 SAVANNA HOMES

This home balances natural and human-made elements with an open landscape to create a legacy home for its owners and their extended family.

The house spans across the western edge of the property, taking advantage of panoramic ridge views as it spills out onto the adjacent meadow. It celebrates its trees by preserving all existing oaks and carefully weaving through them to create varying types of courtyards with distinct indoor-outdoor connections. Stone, stucco and wood accents echo the natural landscape with a distinctly Californian style.

From the vaulted great room, one passes through the intimate foyer to a glass enclosed hallway flanked by landscape, moving from the active living spaces to five private bedrooms. Beyond, the meadow becomes the heart of outdoor recreation with a lap pool, a bocce court and a quirky reclaimed wood barn for guests— comfortable spaces for family living.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Allen Kennedy, Carol Oliva Riddleberger

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In summer, as weather warms, the oak’s bright green canopy shifts to a dark green in striking contrast against the undulating textures of gold grasses.

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Photo by Bill Guion 103

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Savanna 09 SAVANNA HOMES

This estate was conceived as a village of spaces that weave among majestic coastal oaks that have existed on the property for centuries passed.

The house and caretaker’s cottage, pool house, and outdoor dining loggia wrap the edge of a knoll and look out to sweeping views of the Santa Lucia Mountains to the south. The rooms along the path of the building and through the site open generously to distant views, sheltered stone patios, and copses of ancient oaks as they step through the plein air landscape.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Malick & Associates

Bernard Trainor & Associates

Russell Abraham

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Savanna 10 SAVANNA HOMES

The placement of the home was chosen to maintain the inspiring views of a vast array of oak trees and sprawling mountain range.

The heart of this home is its curvilinear organic interior great room which opens to a U-shaped courtyard facing the sunset. The indoor-outdoor space is accented by a floating staircase and an inviting fire pit, where the residence and their guests sit to enjoy a glass of wine from the 1,400-bottle wine cellar.

The building form was inspired by the local Carmel Mission aesthetic with a mix of eclectic, traditional and modern elements evoking a feeling of freshness. The collaboration results in a playful juxtaposition of forms and styles, incorporating details of the historical period architecture indigenous to California.

Our theme began as an abandoned, battered mission Adobe relic that had been brought back to life and renovated with additions during the turn of the last century. Now a century later, new modern additions reflecting the Ranchero life were added, while still respecting the unique details of the current sustainable movement. The result, a marriage of the old and the new aspiring towards timeless architecture.

Our design was inspired by the powerful nature in The Preserve. The colors, textures and patterns of the wildlife established the origins, pallet and mood of the finishes. Sustainability was considered when materials were chosen, such as the reclaimed exposed structural beams of a rail road track, which were forged in 1940 and originally used on a mountain railroad in Colorado.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

James Phillip Wright Architects

Sutton Landscape

Leonardo Alvarez

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Savanna 11 SAVANNA HOMES

This mission-style home plays with a pinwheel-like layout to offer both stunning views and more private nooks.

Gently sloping down to follow the hill, the home opens on its east side to The Preserve’s golf course below. The traditional Spanish veranda acts as the connective tissue for the home’s various wings and curates an experience of privacy and expansion. One flows from the private entry courtyard with its intimate setting and welcoming fountain, passes through the loggia and steps down to the expansive, more public pool and cabana terrace. The veranda continues along the east wall, providing much needed shade and an outdoor entertainment space.

The clients’ unique personality shines through the artisan-focused interior and exterior décor of the home. Wrought iron elements and hand-laid mosaics harmonize with rougher earthy stone cladding, while thick stucco walls tie the residence all together.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Wayne Capili

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Savanna 12 SAVANNA HOMES

“The Caterpillar House sits as a striking example of how sustainable goals, client needs, traditional values, and modern design can come together to form a house as beautiful and functional as the breathtaking land surrounding it.”

– Katy Tomasulo, EcoBuilding Pulse As the first LEED Platinum Custom Home on California’s Central Coast, the Caterpillar House combines ranch ideals that the client loved in her previous Cliff May home, with innovations in sustainable practices that respond directly to the site. The property features low roof lines, an open plan informally revolving around the kitchen, and a strong connection between indoor spaces and the surrounding Santa Lucia Preserve.

Expansive glass panels and sliding doors open the main living area to a contemporary porch and patio. Here sunshades expand and contract to create a versatile entertaining area and act as a passive heating and cooling system. The house’s walls, constructed from excavated earth, and concrete floors help regulate the temperature from day to night. Three large storage tanks accumulate 27,300 gallons of rainwater to cover all of the property’s irrigation, while photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof enable the house to meet all of its energy needs.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Feldman Architecture

Joni L. Janecki & Associates

Paul Dyer

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Savanna 13 SAVANNA HOMES

Nestled into an expansive, rural site, this 8,000 square foot Spanish style residence commands spectacular views of the rolling hills studded with oak trees and chaparral.

The approach to the house is dramatic. Climbing through oak studded grasslands, the entry drive quickly crests and then descends into a shallow valley. A stone bridge crosses the native meadow and culminates at the arrival courtyard.

French doors throughout the home lead to beautifully landscaped courtyards and fountains.

Stucco walls with decorative tiles, ornamental metalwork and woodwork throughout create a timeless look. While decorative timber ceiling beams, plank floors, and plaster walls compliment the interior finishes. A two-story stone entry tower with grand, plank doors pose as the main architectural feature of this sophisticated single-story home.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Taylor Lombardo Architects

Arterra Landscape Architects

David Wakely

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04 COMMUNITY

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

The Ranch Club RECREATION AND HOSPITALITY

The 1920s Spanish Colonial Hacienda is the heart of The Preserve.

Set on a sprawling landscape, the Hacienda sits on land that was once a working ranch. Guest rooms are the perfect mix of historic rancho hospitality blended with today’s most inviting amenities. At the Hacienda, outdoor dining is available in a picturesque courtyard among stunning madrone trees and a roaring fire in the central hearth outside. This is where the community gathers to share in weekly socials, holiday events, live music, art exhibitions and each other’s company. Nearby a tantalizing heated pool is woven seamlessly into the 19th century landscape. A tree covered pathway connects the Hacienda to a state-of-the-art Sports Center with an outdoor lap pool, children’s playground, tennis, bocce, croquet and horseshoe facilities dotting the perimeter. Perpendicular to the Sports Center, is a multi-discipline Equestrian Center and expert team welcoming members and guests to ride within the arena, or on any one of The Preserve’s 100-miles of trails. The Preserve and its communal buildings were designed to be a refuge for families, members and guests to create and capture life’s sacred moments together.

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ARCHITECT

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Hart Howerton

Allen Kennedy

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PRESERVE

The Golf Club RECREATION AND HOSPITALITY

Throughout 365 acres the golf course wanders by towering oaks, through rolling savannas, around wetlands and across seasonal streams framed by the majestic Santa Lucia Range.

The Preserve Clubhouse is nestled among stands of landmark oaks on a west-facing knoll.

It overlooks the 1st tee, the 18th green and the surrounding hills, ridges and mountains. The design echoes California’s Spanish-influenced architectural past with a series of timeless historic structures linking together to form today’s Clubhouse.

The design of the world class golf course, resembles a trail walk, reflecting many aspects of The Preserve’s beautiful natural landscape and breathtaking views. Weaving through wide mature oaks, grassy meadows, flowing streams and ponds, the continuous 18-hole routing captivates golfers with its tranquil ambiance. Indigenous wildlife often sighted includes the golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, wild turkey, gray fox, mule deer, bobcat and the occasional mountain lion.

Here one can find a dramatic setting that blends California ranch hospitality with the best traditions of golf. This is the place purists come to play, simply for the love of the game.

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CLUB HOUSE ARCHITECT

GOLF COURSE DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hart Howerton

Fazio Design

Allen Kennedy

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Closing HOMES & HABITATS

“Thisis is aa plan plan for oldold California landholdings, the 20,000 acres “This forone oneofofthe thegreat great California landholdings, the 20,000 acres Rancho San Carlos (now known as theLucia Santa Preserve).

Lucia Preserve).

Its unique Rancho San Carlos (now known as the Santa Its unique combination ofsize, size,landscape landscape diversity, natural resources and single combination of diversity, natural resources and single ownership presentanan extraordinary opportunity to long-term and largeownership present extraordinary opportunity to long-term and large-scale scale resource preservation and management, at time the same time for resource preservation and management, and at theand same for the creation the new kind community.” of sustainable community.” of acreation new kindof ofasustainable - Preface, Santa Lucia Preserve Comprehensive Development Plan - Preface, Santa Lucia Preserve Comprehensive Development Plan In 1994 there was no blueprint to create a conservation community on the scale of the In 1994 there wasthis nooriginal blueprint to create onthe theserendipitous scale of the Preserve.

Indeed, concept coulda conservation only have beencommunity realized with Preserve. of Indeed, original concept could only been realized the alignment criticalthis components: an unspoiled piecehave of land bigger thanwith Manhattan; an serendipitous alignment of critical components: an unspoiled piece of land bigger than underlying ethos to protect and enhance the land; and a strategic and integrated approach Manhattan; underlying ethosresources, to protect and enhance theand land; and a strategic to protect theanmyriad of natural archeological sites, sensitive habitats. and integrated approach to protect the myriad of natural resources, archeological sites, and The Santahabitats.

Lucia Preserve is one of the few places on Earth that balances the needs of sensitive the environment, wildlife and residents on a 20,000-acre nature preserve. The 123 homes The Santa Luciainto Preserve is one ofand thefeatured few places onbook Earthare that balances to thethe needs of currently nestled The Preserve in this a testament success thethis environment, wildlife and residents on a 20,000-acre preserve.

The 123 of consciousness community development.

Owners andnature their design teams have homes currently intoofThe Preserve and featured book interactive are a testament demonstrated hownestled the design homes and landscapes caninbethis integral, parts to the success of this consciousness community development.

Owners and their of a healthy rural ecosystem. This book celebrates the success of that integrated approach design teams havethe demonstrated how the design homes andtolandscapes can bewithin and acknowledges hard work, shared values and of commitment this community partstoofendure. a healthy ruralyou ecosystem.

This book thetosuccess aintegral, preserveinteractive that continues Thank to everyone who hascelebrates contributed the of that integrated approach and acknowledges the hard work, shared values and realization of this unique community, and a special thanks to the owners, design teams, commitment to Conservancy this community within a preserve that to endure. Thank builders, and the for furthering the vision of continues The Preserve. you to everyone who has contributed to the realization of this unique community, and a special thanks to the owners, design teams, builders, and the Conservancy for furthering the vision of The Preserve.

SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE 1 Rancho San Carlos Road Carmel, CA 93923 (831) 620-6700 www.santaluciapreserve.com info@santaluciapreserve.com

Copyright 2018 Santa Lucia Preserve