Images of rolling hills, vineyards and beaches come to mind when you say 'California ranch lifestyle'. Blessed with fantastic year round weather many 'styles' have emerged that capture options and one of these is California Ranching Lifestyle.
Historically, all ranches are working ranches. Today Ranching is still one of the biggest industries in California and fhe old ranches still dot the foothills and grass lands of California. The productive central valley ranches for the most part been absorbed by large scale farming.
Napa and the wine regions were the first to preserve the old ranches and turn them into showpieces of the winery and wedding business.
Cattle Ranches soon followed suit.
So what makes up the California Ranching Lifestyle?
Design based on Function - The old ranches were often adobe because the material was handy and the buildings could withstand the fires that would 'burn through' on a regular basis. Because it is hot in California in summer they would open to courtyards with fountains and the thick adobe walls would keep the interiors cool.. Each room usually had a small fireplace that could be started to ward off the chilly but not cold winter evenings. Ranches had ranch hands so dining areas were important and were always inside/outside with doors opening to large covered terraces. Since ranches were somewhat remote there was always lots of rooms for guests and for family to stay during brandings or sorting's Most of the ranches had multiple buildings and took on a kind of hodgepodge architecture that became the California Colonial (old California/hacienda) style.
Today these beautiful old ranches are restored as precious jewels.... Or are interpreted in new buildings in a hybrid between Ranching and Vineyard style.
The Land - There are simply too many people in California and Big Ag central valley crop farms don't turn into little farms when they are sold. When a big cattle ranch gets broken up it turns into a subdivision so an old ranch, a mid century small hobby ranch or Vineyard of any large size is a prized thing.
The Light - It is true, the light in California is amazing. And on a ranch you see the shades of blue in the sky and the change of light on the hills. In the early 1920's it inspired an entire Art Movement called the California Plein Air and is one of the most collectible groups of art today. You see the seasons and the changing light in them.
Time - California is a funny place. We work hard... but we don't live to work. Hobby farms and Vineyards provide a fantastic lifestyle and it is taken advantage of. Ranching itself (and vineyards) have a rhythm of peaks of hard work, early spring growth, fall harvest and endless days of down time in-between. It leads to wanting to surround yourself with beauty and sharing it with friends and friends.
The culmination. life itself is a journey...to find the perfect place... the wonderful life and the juxtaposition of the garden and the structure. There is no perfect finish to the journey... it is buildings that evolve over time.. it is gardens that can live with or without water... it is topography that lends itself to multifamily living compounds.
It is the journey....
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