Ilan-Lael: James Hubbell Home and Studio
Honored by the National Trust

Ilan-Lael, in Santa Ysabel near Julian in the back country of San Diego County, is the hand-built compound of artist James Hubbell (1931-2024), a visionary sculptor, painter, and designer whose organic architecture and intricate mosaics, stained glass, and ironwork have graced hundreds of public and private spaces in Southern California and around the Pacific Rim. Over more than six decades, Hubbell and his wife Anne constructed thirteen structures on ten acres of oak woodland in the mountains east of San Diego, creating an environment that bridges the boundaries between art, architecture, and nature. The Ilan-Lael Foundation continues to steward the property and offer educational programs in his spirit.

As a peer-to-peer coalition of museums, HAHS brings together sites that were the homes and working studios of significant American artists, leveraging collective experience in historic preservation, visitor programming, and community engagement. Ilan-Lael has been welcomed to full membership as a site with an established record of public operation, preservation stewardship, and interpretive programming.

“We are beyond honored to have received this designation that will help us continue to commemorate Jim’s legacy,” according to Marianne Gerdes, executive director at the Ilan-Lael Foundation. “Since his passing, we have strived to uphold his belief that art and nature work harmoniously. The property has always been the best hidden gem of San Diego, and now the recognition helps us to share the magic with the public.”

The HAHS program has as its special focus the preservation of America’s artistic heritage as illustrated by the everyday lives of the artists in their homes and studios. In fact, the artists’ family lives are seen as one of the keys to understanding their work. In the case of Ilan-Lael, Jim and Ann Hubbell raised four boys, constructing for them a dedicated building as part of the family compound, The Boys’ House. One of those sons, Drew, became an architect, and both he and his father have presented many programs for Friends of San Diego Architecture over the years:

• 1994, FEB: James, In Search of Spirit in Building
• 2006, OCT: Drew, Art in Architecture
• 2014, MAY: James on the Panel: Balboa Park: Centennial Reflections: 1915-2015
• 2013, NOV: James and Drew: Art in the Service of Peace: The Pacific Rim Parks: 1992-2013
• 2022, OCT: Drew: One City: A Presentation by Drew Hubbell

We are grateful for their contributions to our own educational efforts and congratulate the Ilan-Lael Foundation on its inclusion in the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. It is a perfect example of everything the program aims to achieve.

As always, the schedule for docent-led tours of Ilan-Lael is included in our Announcements section below. Also, through September 6, the Oceanside Museum of Art continues to host the retrospective exhibition: “Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell.” For complete details, see the Museum’s Event Page.

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PLEASE NOTE: Our regular FSDA programs will resume in September.

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Friends of San Diego Architecture Image Library – Featured Gallery

Over two decades ago, the Friends of San Diego Architecture sponsored an early effort to help develop solutions for the state’s housing shortage. In 2004, FSDA held an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Competition for California architecture and design students and professional architects and designers. There were a total of 56 entries. One goal of the competition was to convince the public that “granny flats” could be built on the average San Diego lot of 5000 sq. ft. Another goal was to offer innovative and creative designs to complement main dwellings. This rotating gallery shows some of the most intriguing entries from that competition, our Inspiring ADU Designs

You are invited to visit the full gallery of the ADU Competition entries at ADU Designs.

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Friends of San Diego Architecture Video Archive

Missed a lecture? Check out our videos: Since September 2017, FSDA has been videotaping our lectures. They have been a work in progress. If you missed one of our lectures, you now have a chance to view them here. Architect Manuel Oncina talks about Libraries: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow; Architect Hal Sadler and Modernist Keith York have a dialogue about Evolving Styles: From the Sixties; Architects Ken Baldwin and Andy Darragh discuss From Labs to Libraries; Landscape Architect Vicki Estrada revisits San Diego Design Decisions, and, Architects Kathleen McCormick and Ted Smith present An Alternative Practice. We have now added our September and October lecture videos. We would love to have your comments.

November 2019: Diane Kane – Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Irving Gill: Modern Architecture Emerges

February 2020: Glen Schmidt – Mission Valley: An Open Space Renaissance

January 2022: Panel of Speakers – San Diego-Tijuana: World Design Capital 2024

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The latest video now available and one you won’t want to miss!

UC San Diego: Billions in Development

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