Eric Figge
Historical context and the region’s temperate Mediterranean climate drove the design for a community of 56 luxury production homes at the Pacific Highlands Ranch master planned community near San Diego.
Eric Figge
Dubbed Artesana, the sprawling, contemporary-style residences in the latest phase of Pardee Homes’ Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., community are inspired by the California Spanish colonial design of late architect Lillian J. Rice, who was the lead planner and designer of Rancho Santa Fe in the 1920s.
“Rather than having designers provide us with plans for a ‘Mediterranean’, a ‘Tuscany’, or a ‘Spanish colonial’, several of our recent developments, including Artesana, have been inspired by local architects who historically contributed to that region’s aesthetic,” says Jimmy Ayala, division president of Pardee Homes San Diego. “We wanted this project to encourage conversation about the applicability of honest architecture in production housing.”
Eric Figge
By dotting the homes with several courtyards rather than traditional front and back yards, the design team, headed by Carl Lagoni, vice chairman of Newport Beach, Calif.–based architecture firm Bassenian Lagoni, eliminated dead space and expanded each home’s indoor–outdoor reach from the very front of the property line to the rear. The floor plan allows full use of the site—a valuable feature in today’s markets as vacant land across the country grows increasingly scarce.
“The process began with pulling inspirational imagery and identifying the design drivers: resort-style living, an open layout, and a strong indoor–outdoor connection,” says Lagoni. “The idea was to reinterpret Lillian Rice’s aesthetic and apply those principles in a modern context without losing the spirit of her work.”
Eric Figge
Collapsible, floor-to-ceiling window walls by LaCantina Doors lead to several courtyards, decks, and outdoor lounges protected with plantation shutters that allow sunlight in but filter out heat. Terra-cotta roof tiles and wood rafter tails uphold the community’s Spanish influence, while modern touches such as patterned metal railings and plenty of glass add a clean, streamlined finish.
A “GenSmart” suite with a private entrance and separate living, sleeping, and eating areas—as well as its own courtyard—offers a comfortable solution for visiting parents, children, and friends.
Eric Figge
Although Artesana’s four- and five-bedroom floor plans are spacious, Ayala says that the homes’ plentiful windows and sliding and collapsible doors are equally, if not more, effective for achieving an indoor–outdoor layout when applied to projects on smaller lots. Plus, an increasingly competitive number of companies entering the market for sliding and foldable window and door systems paired with careful material selection makes it possible to create an indoor–outdoor flow while still managing costs, he adds.
Eric Figge
As the division’s first product under the inspiration of parent company the TRI Pointe Group, Artesana required Pardee to push the envelope on more contemporary design driven by buyer demand. According to Pardee, the homes are selling more quickly than anticipated; the most recent phase of homes, priced from $1.8 million, is expected to soon sell out.
“Buyers are becoming smarter, their expectations are growing higher, and they are becoming more savvy about design,” Ayala says. “They are willing to pay more—if you offer something that’s worth it.”
Eric Figge
Eric Figge
Project Artesana at at Pacific Highlands Ranch Plan 3
Location Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Architect Bassenian Lagoni Architects, Newport Beach, Calif.
Builder Pardee Homes San Diego, San Diego
Interior Designer Ami Samuel Interiors, San Diego
Landscape Architect C2 Studio, San Clemente, Calif.
Size 3,831 square feet to 4,746 square feet
Site 0.23 acre
Price $1.8 million and up
