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!


THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN

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THE INN AT MATTEI'S TAVERN

Los Olivos, CA

Design Year 2019
Completed 2023


Project Type

Hospitality, Major Historic Renovation

Awards

Southern California Chapter of ASLA Quality of Life Awards/Honor Award 2023
Hospitality Design Magazine HD Awards/Best Resort 2024

Client

Strange Family Vineyards
Auberge Resorts

Collaborators

RRM Design Group | Civil Engineering
DMHA Architecture | Architect
Avroko | Interior Design
Ann Kale Associates | Lighting Design
True Nature | Irrigation Design

Lead Designers

Courtney Jane Miller
Nicole Horn

photos by Caitlin Atkinson
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What’s Happening at CJM::LA | January 2021

This month we are focused on how to bring people in closer connection to their natural environment.
Our newsletter features the newly opened Mar Monte Hotel, progress on our Mattei’s Tavern renovation, and our volunteerism efforts in the Santa Barbara community.

Click here to join our mailing list!


WLAM | Landscape Architecture Myth Busting – Part 2

Part 2: More myth-busting as we continue to address common misconceptions about landscape architecture.

Myth #3. Density means eliminating urban green space

FALSE: We can have both density & greener, healthier cities

Larger, denser cities are cleaner and more energy efficient than smaller, suburban towns. Suburban and rural towns may have immediate access to open space and wildlands outside city limits because of their more dispersed organization, but large cities can emulate natural ecologies.

Street trees, courtyards, green roofs and living walls, along with botanic gardens and parks provide a network of outdoor spaces that enhance the biological diversity of our cities and help provide essential infrastructure. This framework of planted spaces is able to capture and treat urban run-off, lower temperatures, improve air quality and provide resilience against climate change. Gardens and community farms also provide food and improve human health.

At CJM::LA, we help make our cities healthier and greener by advocating for more planting and functional outdoor space, especially in our densest multi-family housing projects; designing public parks, paseos, and green roofs; and improving city streetscapes.

transplanted Mexican fan palms line the stairs at Bella Riviera workforce homes in Santa Barbara, CA

plant pockets and climbing vines beautify the drive aisles at the East Beach Collection in Santa Barbara, CA  | architect: WHA

live roof at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta, CA

textural plantings line the sidewalk at the Arlington Village apartments in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

entry plantings at homes designed for Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

citrus trees within over-structure planters create a beautiful courtyard at Bella Riviera workforce homes

mediterranean plantings within raised planters help create opportunities for outdoor seating

neighborly gifts grown in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

Myth #4. Planting shouldn’t be done in a drought because plants use water

FALSE: Drought resilience is improved by planting smarter & better managing water resources

During a prolonged drought, there is less available water in the natural ecosystem, which negatively impacts human food and water security. Less water available in aquifers and other natural water bodies means less water for the agricultural industry and for our cities.

Landscape architects provide drought resilience by designing systems to comprehensively and efficiently manage water resources. By implementing bioretention basins, rainwater cisterns, efficient irrigation, greywater recycling and use of climate-adapted and native plants, we optimize our water resources and reallocate the potable water supply for drinking use.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but plants improve our ability to resist the impacts of drought by improving soil health, allowing soils to better capture and store water. Plants also sequester carbon, lower air temperatures, and if used in applications like green roofs, reduce building energy use and reduce the urban heat island effect. We shouldn’t eliminate plants because they use water. Instead, we should be smarter about how we supply plants with water and which plants we elect to use.

Want more info? See these additional links about drought resilience and using green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of other hazards, like wildfires and climate change.

bioretention plants treat stormwater runoff at the Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA.

 


Mar Monte Hotel | Waterfront Construction Almost Complete!

Renovations are underway at what will soon be known as the Hyatt Mar Monte. As this project nears the end of the construction phase, the CJM::LA continues to oversee the revitalization of this historic hotel with Young Construction and Steve Hanson Landscaping.  This project combines layered textural plantings with historic Spanish Colonial detailing, ensuring a natural cohesion with the Santa Barbara waterfront.

demolition of the existing parking lot and impermeable brick paving

converting the existing parking lot into a pedestrian promenade and lobby placita

decorative columns taking shape!

framing the fountain

setting the mediterranean fan palm in place at the pool deck

converting the existing pool deck into a lush paradise

careful restoration of the original hotel entry

putting the finishing touches on our lobby placita fountain. tile provided by NS Ceramic.

 


The Goodland

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THE GOODLAND

Goleta, CA
Completed 2014


Project Type

Hospitality, Major Renovation

Client

Kimpton Hotel Group and Makar Properties

Collaborators

DMHA Architecture | Architect
Studio Collective | Interior Design
Penfield & Smith | Civil Engineering
JMPE | Electrical Engineering + Lighting Design
True Nature | Irrigation Design

Lead Designer

Courtney Jane Miller

photos by Leela Cyd
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El Encanto

El Encanto

El Encanto

Santa Barbara, CA
Completed 2013


Project Type

Hospitality, Major Historic Renovation

Client

Orient Express Hotels and Peloton Group

Awards

City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission / Lockwood de Forest Award 2015
Santa Barbara Beautiful / Presidents Award 2013

Collaborators

MAC Design Associates | Civil Engineering
Gensler | Architecture
JMPE | Electrical Engineering + Lighting Design
Suzanne Elledge Planning + Permitting Services

Courtney oversaw the design and construction of this property as a Project Manager with The Office of Katie O'Reilly Rogers

photos by Leela Cyd
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The Park – Las Vegas

Read Full Article:
The Park – Las Vegas, NV
May 26, 2016
Landezine

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Image courtesy of Hanns Joosten

Las Vegas isn’t exactly known for its parks, but all that is about to change. New York City based firm !melk has brought cutting edge urban design and green space to the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Click here to read more about how !melk is changing the conversation on the famous Las Vegas Strip.


ARCHITECTOURS 2015 | THE GOODLAND HOTEL

ArchitecTours 2015
On Saturday, October 3 CJM::LA provided tours of our Goodland Hotel property as part of the AIASB ArchitecTours.  This event is held annually as a celebration of local architecture within the Santa Barbara area.  This year was one of the most successful tours to-date!  Thank you to all of our friends, clients and supporters who came out for the tour.  To view photos from the event, click here.


AIASB ARCHITECTOURS 2015 | FEATURING NEW WORK BY CJM::LA

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CJM::LA’s recently opened Goodland Hotel property will be featured on this year’s AIASB ArchitecTours!

The Santa Barbara AIA’s annual ArchitecTours, a celebration of local architecture, will showcase nine homes and businesses including our recently opened Goodland Hotel property.

The theme of this year’s ArchitecTours is ‘Architecture with a Story’.  Each of the nine projects features an intriguing personal or construction story that profile many of the design obstacles encountered during the building process.  This event draws attention to the extraordinary architectural legacy in Santa Barbara and the value of well-designed architecture to its surrounding community.  Equally, ArchitecTours highlights the expertise that AIA architects (and Landscape Architects!) possess including a thorough understanding and expertise in urban design, sustainability, accessibility, structural improvements, building materials, and historic renovation.

The tour will be held on Saturday October 3rd from 10am – 4pm and will culminate with a festive party.

Early Bird Tickets are $65 for general public, $55 for AIA members and seniors, and $25 for students. Please note that early bird tickets are only available until September 13th.  This year, five percent of the proceeds earned by the event will be donated to Habitat for Humanity for their next project in Santa Barbara County.  Habitat has been a valued client of ours and we are proud to contribute to another opportunity for fundraising for this incredible organization.

Tickets can be purchased here.

CJM::LA Landscape Architecture Santa Barbara
This year CJM::LA is a site sponsor at The Goodland Hotel property, which we completed in 2014.  This is a great opportunity to see our work in action, and receive a personal tour of the property with representatives of our firm as well as DMHA, our Architect partners for the property.  We look forward to seeing you there!