The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern Receives Honor Award from SOCAL ASLA
We are thrilled to announce that our Inn at Mattei’s Tavern project has been recognized by the Southern California Chapter of the ASLA with an Honor Award in the Historic Preservation and Restoration Design category at the 2023 Quality of Life Awards! This category recognizes constructed, site-specific works of landscape architecture that demonstrate the integration of historic value into the design process.
The new vision for Mattei’s Tavern has been years in the making, and we were honored to be selected as part of an incredible team to help develop a site design that respects this significant historic landmark while also bringing modern amenities to what is now part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. Led by Nicole Horn, our team collaborated with DMHA Architecture, AvroKO, RRM, True Nature, and Ann Kale Associates to bring this incredible property to life.
The existing Mattei’s Tavern building, five cottages, and thirteen specimen trees were designated a historic landmark in 2010. More than one hundred years prior, Felix Mattei built the original “Central Hotel” in 1886 for travelers transferring from the end of the Pacific Coast Railway to stage coach.
Careful study of historic documents allowed the design team to reimagine how this significant landmark would continue to serve as the heart of the Los Olivos community for the next one hundred years. Working with the surviving historic specimen trees, the landscape design pays homage to the rural western vernacular of the late 19thcentury with traditional Victorian-style plantings, expansive lawns, and formal walkways at the historic eastern side of the property. A new outdoor dining patio with overhead trellis was added to the Mattei’s Tavern building, in a similar style to the existing wood boardwalk and trellis at the main entrance. Visible from the dining patio are a new event barn, chef’s garden with painted brick planters, the refurbished historic water tower, and new event lawn.
Congratulations to the whole project team!
Santa Barbara Beautiful Awards 2023
This weekend our team was honored with an award for our Camino Viejo Residence from Santa Barbara Beautiful at their annual awards reception. Congratulations to our wonderful clients, Chip and Betsy, for their vision and continued stewardship of the property; and to the Cearnal Collective for the outstanding architectural design!
LADAC Cal Poly Winter 2023
Last week Courtney visited Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, her alma mater, as part of her involvement in the Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council (LADAC). This group was formed in 2001, and Courtney has been an active member for the past ten years.
Each academic quarter, members of this group visit campus to spend the day observing and participating in studios and providing critiques of student work. They give the students of Cal Poly a unique opportunity to interface directly with active members of the landscape architectural profession; and provide valuable mentorship and training in the form of resume/portfolio development and interview skills. Off campus, LADAC provides students with opportunities for shadowships and internships in addition to scholarships.
SB Beer Garden 2023
On Saturday we celebrated our TEN YEARS in business at the SB Botanic Garden‘s annual Beer Garden event. It was a beautiful day at the garden – with a full creek, California poppies in full bloom and incredible food, drinks and music throughout the garden. If you are ever in Santa Barbara for this event, it’s not to be missed!
Courtney, Jianhua, Christina, Janet, Arturo
Celebrating the Women of CJM::LA
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating all of the women of CJM::LA – both past and present. In the past ten years, we’ve had the privilege to work alongside such incredible team members – both within our design studio and within our expanded community of vendors, suppliers, collaborators, contractors and clients.
As a certified woman-owned small business, we are proud to have women leading both our ownership and operations, bringing insight and creativity to our growing team.
COURTNEY JANE MILLER
As the principal landscape architect and owner of CJM::LA, Courtney has led our creative team for ten years. She combines the the thoughtfulness of a technical mind with the creativity of an artistic one, and loves to dig into the history the properties she designs as well as push the boundary of the expected. Along with Nicole Horn, Courtney leads the creative vision for CJM::LA.
NICOLE HORN
Nicole joined CJM::LA in 2016, and has brought expertise in urban planning, resource management and landscape architectural design to the CJM::LA team. As associate principal and director of operations, she promotes transparency and collaboration across all aspects of our work. Nicole pushes herself and others to take risks, innovate and surpass conventional design roles and traditions.
JANET SHOTWELL
Janet joined CJM::LA 2014 as office manager and bookeeper. She loves to make connections within our community while also keeping all aspects of our studio running smoothly. Janet holds degrees in Historic Preservation and Architectural Technology, and brings this knowledge base to her work at CJM::LA. She is the glue that holds us together!
AIKO STRASSER
Aiko recently joined CJM::LA as a project manager, and brings experience in mixed-use, hospitality and institutional projects to her role as part of the production team. She believes in a whole-systems approach to design with a focus on social, economic and environmental equity.
Happy New Year 2023!
Jianhua, Janet, Courtney, Arturo, Aiko, Nicole, Cameron
Sending peace and abundance for 2023. Happy New Year from our family to yours!
Santa Barbara Beautiful Awards 2022
We are thrilled to announce that our team was recognized by the Santa Barbara Beautiful organization for three outstanding properties at the 2022 Santa Barbara Shines! awards ceremony.
UNITY OF SANTA BARBARA | 2022 Commercial Property Award
This project transformed an existing lawn at the front of a historic mid-century modern church building into an inviting courtyard and entry garden. Designated as a Structure of Merit by the City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission, the existing building was constructed in 1958 in the mid-century modern style. Our team designed the courtyard and gardens to complement the architectural design of the building and pay homage to the mid-century era, while addressing the functional needs of the Unity organization.
MAYEE PLAZA | 2022 Multi-Family Residence Award
This mixed-use infill housing project in the downtown core of Santa Barbara transformed an existing asphalt parking lot into a new multi-story development including 26 apartments and ground-floor commercial office space. Our team designed a community courtyard in the space between the new building and the existing historic Louisa Ygnacio House to accommodate residents of the new apartments as well as employees and guests of to the commercial offices on the ground floor. The decomposed granite, native California plants and Santa Barbara sandstone elements were selected to compliment the design language of the nearby Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
CABRILLO BALL PARK | 2022 Public Open Space Award
Together with the City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, the CJM::LA team renovated an existing ball field on the Santa Barbara waterfront to address improved community programming, stormwater management and circulation. A circuit walking trail with exercise equipment, better lighting and biofiltration plantings provide a sense of enclosure while maintaining important sight lines for public safety.
AIASB ARCHITECTOURS 2022 | FEATURING NEW WORK BY CJM::LA
The ArchitecTours is back in person this year, and we are excited to have two of our recent projects featured on the tour! Hosted by the AIASB, the theme of this year’s tour is “Celebrate Santa Barbara.”
Mayee Plaza
Cabrillo Commercial Complex
From the AIASB: The projects on the tour this year include several unique residences; a contemporary cliffside home on The Mesa, a renovated modern farmhouse in Downtown Santa Barbara and two homes in Montecito that share a strong relationship with their natural surroundings. Also, on the tour are several historic building renovations including the former Hollister Family Office building and adobe. Additionally, tour goers will also have the chance to visit two new multi-family housing buildings downtown that offer a range of unit sizes and amenities.
The tour will be held Saturday October 1st from 10am – 4pm and will culminate with a festive party.
To purchase tickets, click here.
We hope to see you there!
Happy New Year 2022!
Santa Barbara Residence | Santa Barbara, CA | Completed 2021
As we kick off the new year, the CJM::LA team is looking forward to focusing on our collective creative practice and developing deeper relationships with our many collaborators. We are grateful for the support of our clients and the design community!
Happy New Year from our family to yours!
Direct Relief Honored with Merit Award at the SOCAL ASLA Quality of Life Awards
We are honored to announce that our Direct Relief Headquarters project has been recognized by the Southern California Chapter of the ASLA with a Merit Award in the General Design category at the 2021 Quality of Life Awards! This year’s theme, “growing importance of the outdoors” celebrates outdoor space as a crucial part of our existence.
A collaboration with DMHA, the design of this new campus brought forward the concept of healing as a reference to our client’s mission as well as the ecological context of the site.
Led by Nicole Horn, this project has been recognized by multiple architectural, engineering and green building organizations for it’s exemplary design. Congratulations Nicole!
Adventurous Design + Civilization Building
GOODLAND, TERREMOTO
“…the future looks wildly different than what we were championing as beautiful gardens twenty years ago…”
Listen to podcast:
Adventurous Design + Civilization Building
July 15, 2021
Cultivating Place
Celebrating Habitat for Humanity
This Saturday, May 22 Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is honoring individuals and organizations that provided exemplary support and partnership over the past 20 years at their Habitat Homecoming Virtual Gala. We are proud to be one of those partners, having helped design and build both the 12-unit Canon Perdido Affordable Homes project in Santa Barbara in 2014, as well as the 3-unit Sawyer Avenue Affordable Homes project in Carpinteria in 2019. Both projects were realized in collaboration with DMHA Architecture.
Sawyer Avenue Affordable Homes, rendering by Ryan Mills | DMHA Architecture
At CJM::LA, we believe strongly in the need for equitable housing policies and affordable housing for all. We are honored to partner with such an incredible organization to help families build and improve a place to call home. The Canon Perdido Homes project accommodates housing for 44 people and 22 children, and the Sawyer Avenue Homes project accommodates housing for 14 people and 8 children.
Click here to purchase gala tickets, or here to make a donation.