The Ilan-Lael Foundation is seeking funds to update and preserve one of the most unique architectural spectacles in the region: the historic Ilan-Lael compound in Santa Ysabel.
The brainchild and former home of San Diego artist James Hubbell, Ilan-Lael features stained glass windows abutting adobe brick, mosaics pressed into walls and ceilings and a dearth of right angles. For its organic and distinct designs, the compound has amassed global renown — in addition to receiving a San Diego County historic designation in 2008.
With its Summer of Love fundraiser, the foundation aims to raise $80,000 for make quick and urgent repairs, Ilan-Lael Foundation executive director Marianne Gerdes said.
One such emergency repair, Gerdes added, is to seal a crack in the roof of the compound’s Big Studio. Composed of rebar, plaster wire and cement cloak, the studio’s roof juts out from the main body — articulating roughly parabolic awnings on its way out.
“It’s also one of the most impressive designs that’s on the property,” Gerdes said. “And that’s saying something because all of those buildings are impressive in their own way.”
In the next three to five years, the foundation envisions a more general retrofit of the buildings — some of which were built more than 50 years ago. The foundation’s future goal of $500,000 to $1 million in retrofitting funds, Gerdes said, could go toward supplying interns and visitors with internet, replacing windows, air conditioning and art restoration.
To make these repairs, Gerdes said the foundation will first tap its community of artists. For construction, the foundation would then seek external services.
In executing these upgrades, Gerdes said the result should remain consistent with Hubbell’s naturalistic vision and artistic legacy.
“I think saving his home and preserving this property is really a gift that San Diego can give to itself of someone who loved this place for all of it,” Gerdes said, “for its beauty, for its culture, for its potential.”
As of Friday afternoon, the foundation realized approximately $53,000 of its $80,000 Summer of Love fundraising goal. The public can learn more at ilanlaelfoundation.org/summer-of-love.
