When you want to create one of the world’s most beautiful homes, you may have to go the lengths of the globe to do it. So it was with Hacienda De La Paz. As the South Bay’s preeminent estate and one of America’s most distinctive properties, you might expect 50,000 square feet of living space, jetliner views and the ultimate in luxury and security. But for the Hacienda, traditional descriptors such as room counts are utterly eclipsed by the intriguing stories and secrets that run so much deeper. The indoor pool is a perfect example. Lined by arches of hand carved sandstone blocks, each was made by a collective of some 300 nomadic Moroccan tribesmen in the traditions of their Moorish ancestors. Their incredible work was then carefully transported and reassembled in California, resulting in a pool setting so spectacular that it leaves visitors audibly gasping at its beauty; just a small part of one of the countless such stories that can be told about this stunning manor and the 17 years of its making.
There’s a reason why this relatively young estate already emanates such a profound sense of history. The Hacienda remains the only home in the Americas by celebrated architectural laureate Rafael Manzano Martos, the one-time Director-Curator of Europe’s oldest active royal palace, the Alcazar of Seville. His insights, gained as a restorer of Spain’s cathedrals and palaces, can be felt throughout the Hacienda, uniquely connecting it to the Classical idiom and its Andalusian roots, culminating in a residence that is nothing short of palatial. The estate’s faithfulness to its Spanish forbears extends to such amenities as a private chapel, custom forged door and window hardware, thick adobe walls and tile roofing created by the same artisans responsible for the restoration of the historic California missions. Recovered heart pine that had been felled 300 years ago in southern Georgia was dredged out of two rivers and used for much of the hacienda’s wood flooring. This rare wood is the exact variety used for the masts of the tall sailing ships built during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It was also used to build the grand estates of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, but must now be reclaimed because native stands are extremely scarce.
Outside, the 8-acre Hacienda grounds include a red-clay tennis court built to French Open specs, infinity pool, orchards consisting of more than 26 varieties of fruit and nut trees, private bridle trails, small pet sanctuary, and bocce court. Hacienda De La Paz sets itself apart with the boldness of its vision, the brilliance of its execution and the softness of its beauty. Simply put, there is nothing in America quite like it. To learn more about Hacienda De La Paz, please contact listing agent, Marcie Hartley, at 310.980.0141, Marcie(at)marciehartley(dotted)com or visit www.haciendadelapaz.com.
