Wing House Soars: Architecture in tune with Nature

Wing House Architecture by David Hertz – Boney Peak Photo © Alice Joyce

Wing Ranch Landscape – Boney Peak Photo © Alice Joyce

Ms. Rehwald responded enthusiastically to architect Santa Monica architect, David Hertz when he first put forth the notion of repurposing a 747 aircraft. Using wings as roof structures, the deconstructed jet would yield tail pieces, cockpit windows, fuselage, et al. to become the ranch’s main house, guest lodgings, barn, meditation chamber and more.

Wing House – Wing and Landscape © Alice Joyce

Wing frames a mountain vignette : Sweeping views extend to the Channel Islands & Pacific Ocean.

Wing Ranch Duquette Pagoda Detail  © Alice Joyce

The 55-acre property Ms. Rehwald purchased had once been a famous getaway spot for legendary Los Angeles artist/designer, Tony Duquette and his wife Elizabeth. Duquette dubbed the property, ‘The Empire,’ devoting 30 years to building out a fantastical setting.

In Duquette’s extravagant sanctuary, a plethora of ornamental pavilions, pagodas, houses and outbuildings utilized old props and discarded salvage of every stripe for construction materials: Oil drums and satellite dishes, metal pipes, Navy surplus framing devices, embroidered parasols, and antlers with a provenance tracing to Hearst’s San Simeon ranch were all reworked in marvelous and amazing ways.

Wing Ranch -Duquette Pagoda Photo © Alice Joyce

Cast-off objects Duqette transformed into dreamy elements of enchantment. Sadly, in 1993 a fire swept through, destroying all but a few of the structures Duquette created for his so-called Sortilegium.

Landscaping is underway! Horticulturist Aaron Landworth is consulting on the design and plantings. Landworth says Tony Duquette’s original plant palette encompassed carefree oleanders and agaves, tree aloes and jade plants, while the ranch’s Santa Monica Mountains’ habitat contains a trove of native vegetation, taking in magnificent wildflowers:

Architectural Details  – Photos © Alice Joyce

Wing Ranch Euphorbia x lomi  © Alice Joyce

The hilly terrain comes to life with  Zauschneria and lupines, monkey flowers and sages; the sacred white sage of Native Americans – Salvia apiana and Salvia clevelandii. Indigenous trees are represented by sycamores and live oaks, black walnuts and elderberries.

As the Wing Ranch Gardens take shape, Euphorbia x lomi, one of  Francie Rehwald’s favorite selections brings bursts of bright salmon hues to the drought-tolerant tableaux appearing on the scene. The natural setting’s abundant flora presents a haven for fauna, as well. Rattlesnakes may be underfoot, while hawks glide high above. Bobcats and mountain lions are equally at home.

And did I forget to mention the variety of native Ceanothus species, white  blooms and shades of blue that are found blooming at Wing Ranch!

Photo: Wikipedia