This property has been sold

Julian, California

This unique award winning mountain retreat home and garden are located in the mountains east of San Diego. There are 5 structures on-site including guest quarters, hot tub, decks, English garden house, green house and garages. This solar heated and powered home won the prestigious SANDEE award.
Green HomePhotovoltaic (PV)Solar - Photovoltaic
$2,400Annual Property Tax
$626Annual Utility Cost
2,181Square Feet
3 / 3Beds / Baths
21780 sq ftLot Size
2005Year Built

Mortgage Calculator

Purchase Price ($)Down Payment
%
Loan Amount
$479,200
Annual Interest Rate
%
Loan Term (years)
Monthly Mortgage Payment
$3,449.62

What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?

The passive solar heated and cooled approach with large glass areas to provide natural lighting, makes the house comfortable with a low carbon footprint. Most of the floor covering is attractive slate or tile. The solar heating is complimented by an efficient pellet stove using waste wood such as saw dust or agricultural waste products. The space conditioning is back-up with central propane heating and high SEER air conditioning as needed. Solar also provides most of heating of the homes hot water, and the hot tub off the master bedroom. The driveway and decks allow rain to perk into the ground rather than run off. Half the water in the house is used twice (grey water) and along with captured rain water, automatically irrigates the garden. (see above section)

Property Description

This unique mountain retreat home and garden are located in the mountains east of San Diego with a four season climate. Sandwiched between the Anza-Borrego desert and the metropolitan San Diego area, there are six major public recreation areas nearby. Just down the road lies the historic village of Julian which hosts shops, restaurants and five wine tasting rooms. The driving time to the international airport is 70 minutes. This inspired combination of a creatively designed home with a beautiful garden in a near-zero energy home is a home of the future but holds on to the charm of the past. The creative architecture of the main house was designed by Jay Evart. He blended craftsman style with vaulting ceilings and open layout. Large glass areas allow views of the garden and surrounding hills. The interior and exterior layout facilitates flow of guests when entertaining. Additional structures include guest quarters, brick deck with cantilevered sun shade and gas grill, hot tub off the master bedroom, and four ancillary buildings including a cedar English summer house overlooking the extensive gardens. Cedar is also used for the greenhouse as well as the historic-design fence. The total living space is 2181 square feet with 1731 ft2 in the main house and 450 ft2 in the guest quarters over the workshop/garage. The main house has 2 bedrooms and 2 bath, with the remaining bedroom and bath in the guest quarters. The master gardener designed garden has seven different planting zones with color throughout the seasons. There are 23 fruit trees and a uniquely designed raised kitchen garden. The house has very large glass areas to view the garden and there is an English summer house in the garden with Brazilian walnut (Ipe) deck. The garden is watered by gray water and rain water. A climate controlled green house with attached tool shed host citrus trees over the winter. The garden has places to linger: benches in hidden niches and a weathered cedar swing. A wooden bridge passes over a dried river rock creek bed. A Boole course gives one a chance to spend a relaxing hour with the only sound being the click of the balls. The English summer house imbedded in the garden, gives a superb chance to enjoy the garden while sipping tea or wine. The greenhouse is a place for the gardener to work in comfort with all their accoutrements at hand. Tropical plants can winter here and then be placed out in the spring. This award winning near-zero energy efficient house with a low carbon footprint received the juried 2005 SANDEE award (from the California Center for Sustainable Energy) for the most energy efficient home build in 2005. It uses top-line double glazed windows, extra insulation, radiant barriers, cathedral roof air venting and attic venting with temperature activated fans. Fluorescent lighting is used throughout along with high efficiency appliances and a high SEER air conditioner. Solar tubes provide natural lighting in the bathrooms. The SSE facing roof is tilted at the latitude angle (32 degree) for maximum solar energy collection. The house provides all its own electricity. It has 100% renewable heating in a four season climate using direct gain passive solar heating with masonry floors (slate stone on concrete slab) and a pellet wood stove. Water is solar heated for the home and hot tub. There is very low air conditioning power usage due to the thermal tightness, roof, overhang, house orientation, high end windows and shade trees. Fans are used throughout to extend the human comfort zone. An automated gray water system and rain water collection reduce the garden water usage. A solar heated greenhouse allows citrus trees to winter over with little energy use. The guest quarters are heated with renewable fire wood in a highly efficient stove.

Neighborhood Description

Located at 4300 feet elevation, the house is sandwiched between the Anza-Borrego desert and the metropolitan San Diego area. There are six major public recreation areas nearby. Just down the road lies the historic village of Julian which hosts shops, restaurants and five wine tasting rooms. A short walk to the nearby hilltop opens a magnificent view to the desert to the east. There are ample hiking opportunities in the area. Due to the elevation, 4-season plants are possible and it snows occasionally. It is possible to cross-county ski or snow-shoe in the area.

Market Area

The nearest stop light is 24 miles away. There are about 1700 homes and about 4000 people in the Julian zip code spread out over about 100 square miles. There is some local orchard growing, ranching and many people keep horses. There are a few local wineries and many B&Bs. The driving time to downtown San Diego is 70 minutes.

School District

Three School Districts: Spencer Valley (Wynola) K - 6; Julian Elementary and Junior High; Julian High School

Community

Julian

Location of Home or Land

Rural

Elevation of Home

Mountain

Air Quality

Agriculture in Areayes
Industry in Areano
Air Pollution in Areano
Pesticide Freeyes
Fragrance Freeyes
Cleaned with Green Productsyes

Interior Environment

Heating System
Forced Air - Gas
Solar - Passive
Wood Stove
Cooling System
Conventional Forced Air - A/C
Passive Cooling
Ventilation System
Whole House Fan
Whole House Filtration
HEPA filtration
Whole House Vacuumno

Energy & Water

Energy System
Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar - Photovoltaic
Water System
Rain Water Collection
Other
Wastewater System
Septic System

Construction Information

Exterior Finish
Masonry
Interior Finish
Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock
Interior Paint
Low VOC
Floor Material
Carpet
Tile
Other
Roof Material
Asphalt Composition Shingle
Window Material
Wood Dual Glazed
Insulation Material
Fiberglass

Garage / Car Port

Garage / Carportyes
Garage Typedetached
Number of Cars3
Garage Area486 sqft

Property Website

Website: http://www.extraordinaryhouse.net

Listing ID : 18352