Hacienda De La Paz A Priceless, World-Class Estate Steeped in Tradition Offers Peace, Tranquility and a Rare Opportunity for Ownership
The stunning, 51,000-square-foot 19th century Spanish Andalusian compound commanding the crest of Rolling Hills dubbed Hacienda De La Paz, is steeped in serene surrounds and soaks in unsurpassed 180-degree panoramic views, from the Santa Monica Bay to Downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains, as if soaring above Southern California.
The Hacienda, architecturally spanning a millennium of craftsmanship and ingenuity, is an expression of a world-class lifestyle resort home based on California’s Spanish heritage and historical Moorish luxuries, all set within tranquil aromatic gardens and glorious fountains.
“I wanted to build a home that would stand the test of time,” recalls owner John Z. Blazevich, whose meticulous research inspired the exquisite estate. “Therefore, it had to be historical, original, meaningful, and reflective of California.”
Desirous of a more purist approach, John Blazevich dug deep into California’s Spanish roots, to the time of the Spanish explorers, for an authentic design. Sparing no expense, he then married this style with luxury details and materials, innovation, and energy efficiency. For collaborators, John Blazevich assembled an adroit crew: architect Rafael Manzano Martos (who has served as curator to Spain’s royal family), a California architect, two Spanish interior designers, and a Spanish artist in residence. Together, over the course of 17 years, the team created a private palace “fit for a king,” as stated by Lauren Beale of The Los Angeles Times.
Sprawling in square footage, the palatial residence is “the 36th largest home in the country,” says co-listing agent John Corrales of Forbes Corrales.
“When considering the company it is in and the events that have been held here, it has to be one of the most prized estates for anyone to own.”
Credit the home’s spatial intimacy—each room feels perfectly intimate and purposeful—to the team successfully uniting both formal and informal with methodically designed spaces. For example, handcrafted interlocking wood ceilings create a dramatic yet livable formality to the living and dining rooms. Meanwhile, the more relaxed family room that doubles as a home theater boasts a cozy atmosphere where decor hides necessary acoustics and projection screens for viewing movies on quiet evenings.
Many experiments by sound engineers were conducted throughout the Hacienda to make private spaces like the family room and the master suite a quiet, enveloping sanctuary for sublime rest and rejuvenation. Such detail-oriented design is well apparent in every facet of the home.
For example, the hand-painted dome ceilings; hardwood floors of priceless river recovered logs that display the integrity of authentic Spanish design; and priceless hand-carved ancient statues and molding designs throughout. These touches, and others, like the aforementioned concealment of electronics and televisions, also throughout the home, put design and its purity at the forefront.
Impeccably planned, the layout accommodates the brilliantly-themed bedrooms, all including private patios and en-suite baths, on one wing of the main house and common areas on the perpendicular wing. Connecting each segment of the home is a sensible transition room, be it a dramatic reading room draped in Flemish tapestries or a tribute room to the making of olive oil.
“Practicality matters,” adds Alexandra McLeod, John’s fiancée. “We wanted to access all areas of our home quickly and easily, and we achieved that with pragmatic design.”
Alexandra McLeod is an Emmy nominated TV host and trained Le Cordon Bleu chef; her divine kitchen is streamlined and planned with precision, topped with Cathedral ceilings and adorned with a swoon-worthy French La Cornue stove. For entertaining on a large scale, the property also includes two convenient catering kitchens, built completely out of sight to guests.
Also on the property are guest suites, a separate guest house with a living room and kitchen, a six-car garage and motor court, bocce court, outdoor clay tennis court, and an elegant main swimming pool with the best views of Los Angeles, from the Pacific Ocean to the San Bernadino Mountains.
The awe-inspiring 10,000-square-foot Moorish Hamam spa and the 15,000-square-foot neoclassical grand ballroom and indoor tennis court are the subjects of much media attention, while the 10th-century Moorish spa, in particular, is authentic in its design, drenched in marble, with touches of sparkling 24-carat gold tiles and sandstone pillars surrounding the pool handcrafted by more than 300 Moroccan nomads. His and her mineral baths, private lounging rooms, and meditative spaces create a relaxing ambiance for enriching the soul. Meanwhile, the aforementioned 18th-century neoclassical grand ballroom with separate sound and lighting control rooms concealed behind trompe l’oeil murals is ideal for hosting grand events that can seat up to 350 guests.
Due to the monumental scale of Hacienda De La Paz, John Blazevich needed to find a distinctive location that afforded the acreage necessary to support the estate as well as provide privacy and views.
“I searched extensively in Los Angeles for a location with abundant acreage and amazing views, yet it had to be private, safe, and off the radar. To be able to find these requirements in the current Los Angeles luxury market is very rare. But, I found it in Rolling Hills.”
Being the only 24-hour guard-gated city in the South Bay, Rolling Hills is one of the safest and wealthiest communities in America today. Drawing high net-worth buyers behind the city gates are breathtaking vistas and 57 miles of equestrian trails and multiple equestrian rings. Rolling Hills also is only a few minutes to great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, as well as to excellent private and public schools. Above all, the ocean is a mere 15-minute drive from Hacienda De La Paz, an easy trek for beach lovers and yachting types.
“My idea was for the property to transport you to another place—I wanted to create an escape, a sanctuary,” says John Blazevich, who did just that.
One is surrounded by beauty here, visually and sensually. Fragrant flowers and trees are strategically planted to enjoy the richness of their aromas at certain times of the year. Fruit and nut-bearing trees supply the home with figs, plums, peaches, avocados, and citrus for cocktails in the bar and billiards room. Stone pathways make lovely trails for morning walks through trees filled with singing birds and flowering blooms.
Lauren Forbes and John Corrales | Forbes Corrales
Jade Mills and Tiffany Mills | Coldwell Banker
List Price $40,000,000
For Information, Visit Haciendadelapaz.com
Photographs by Steve Brown, Sepia Productions, Inc.