Strewn among the rolling hills of northern Escondido are granite boulders so huge they look like something from Jurassic Park. Snuggled among them, a new home is so closely connected with nature that it brings one massive rock inside as a major design element—and that’s only one example of how this fantastic place is fused to the land.
Designed by Drew Hubbell for Joi Lin Blake and dubbed “The Serenity Project: Under the Oaks,” it’s a subtle and energy-efficient sanctuary that demonstrates how “green design” need not mean clunky rooftop solar panels. Sustainable elements—such as concrete floors that retain heat from low winter sun and a roof of insulated panels that stabilize interior temperatures year-round—are integral to the architecture and help it achieve “net zero,” meaning the home produces all the energy it needs, drawing none from the grid.
Building a house came naturally to Blake, who managed construction projects as president of Palomar College. After she retired in 2020, she set out to create a home that would raise the bar for earth-friendly architecture.
“In my research on building sustainably, a friend recommended I connect with Drew Hubbell as a pioneer in green design,” she says. “I also chose him because his values aligned with the philosophy that guided the project, as far as the land, its history, and collaboration with the construction team.”
Drew Hubbell earned his degree in architecture from the University of Arizona and has traveled through the US and abroad surveying materials and building techniques. Much of what he knows about design comes from his father James Hubbell, who died in 2024, leaving a legacy of what he called “the architecture of jubilation,” celebrating kindness, understanding, and nature’s bounties.
He designed several San Diego houses with these guiding principles, and many of us have experienced them in projects such as his Pacific Rim Park on San Diego Bay, Sea Ranch Chapel in Northern California, and the Hubbell Home & Studios and Ilan-Lael Foundation in Santa Ysabel near Julian. Then there was the quirky and beloved Triton restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a cozy seaside grotto of organic shapes and stained glass. It closed in 2014 and is being remodeled into a new eatery. Ilan-Lael salvaged some of James’ work on the structure, including one of the large stained-glass windows that were his hallmark.
Drew grew up immersed in sustainable design—his father’s work was energy-efficient and prioritized materials that can be obtained with the least impact on the environment. Hubbell & Hubbell Architects, now headed by Drew, has blazed a green building trail for more than 25 years, combining elements, often sourced onsite, that range from adobe and straw bales to natural plasters, recycled steel, and insulated concrete.
James Hubbell was known for thoughtful partnerships with artisans, carpenters, and clients. That collaborative spirit continues here. Blake and Drew visited several sites together before settling on this one, secluded on a rocky hilltop covered with native plants such as coast live oaks, manzanita, and sage. This remarkable vantage provides 360-degree views, from the ocean to Palomar Mountain.
“A friend and I sat on top of a boulder one evening and said, ‘Let’s see what the land says to us,’” Blake recalls. “The house is rounded like the land. I set out with the intention of creating an experience that embraces humanity’s oneness with nature, moments of peace, moments of reflection, moments of serenity under the oaks. Every line and every detail gives a sense of movement like one gets from the terrain, the boulders, the wind, the natural landscape.”
As did his dad, Drew encourages creative teamwork. He was a perfect fit with Blake, an energetic, hands-on client who spent many days onsite during construction. She made several suggestions that were incorporated into the design, including a roof curved like surrounding boulders, spotlights that showcase those commanding rocks, and a freestanding tiled wall that wraps around a cozy shower in the primary suite.
Wood-and-stained-glass front doors lead into a relatively modest home—three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, 2,492 square feet—that feels much larger thanks to tall ceilings; open interiors; and expansive, unobstructed views. Stunning entry doors are Hubbell & Hubbell’s signature, and many of them, including these, were crafted by Dan Thoner, a longtime Ilan-Lael artisan whose career has also included illustrations for Wrangler, Taylor Guitars, and Miller Brewing; logos for San Diego State University and Adventure 16; and graphic designs for countless clients. He met James Hubbell in 2007 and remains a vital part of the Ilan-Lael universe.
Near the entry, a house-size boulder juts into the double-height main living space as part of the front wall. Steps rise along the boulder’s edge to a loft that rests on top of it, serving as a guest bedroom, office, or place to relax with a good book and great views. The open central space below encompasses living, dining, and kitchen areas, with bedrooms along one edge. It’s capacious enough for large gatherings, yet perfectly intimate for quiet days and nights.
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As an experiment in green design, the Serenity house is a harmonious marriage of beauty and sustainability. A couple years ago, Blake and Drew presented it to the San Diego Green Building Council as a case study in green design, and last year, the County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June 3 as Serenity Project Day.
It’s the opposite of nearby sites where owners cut down mature oaks and manzanita, broke up ancient boulders and hauled away the pieces, and bulldozed the landscape into flat pads. By contrast, Blake’s home-sweet-home is a living part of a landscape occupied for millenia by the Kumeyaay, who built their lives around nature. It’s exactly what James Hubbell meant by jubilant architecture.
