Family builds village of dugout homes into remote SoCal hill

Homes are square, they said. Polymath artist James Hubbell built 100%-curvy Hobbit Village 🐚

In 1958, James and Anne Hubbell bought cheap land in the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego to build a home with their own hands using materials from the land. Over the next several decades, they built a cluster of unique homes across the property to accommodate their growing family and working needs.

Using only shovels, they dug into the hillside, using existing boulders as footings and wood milled on the property. Modeled after nature, the shelters seem to grow from the land with curving walls reminiscent of seashells. “There are no straight lines in the Hubbell Universe,” explains Hubbell Foundation director Marianne Gerdes.

When they outgrew their original one-room adobe cabin, they built a kitchen/living room as an independent structure, connected by a courtyard to a new bedroom space. This outdoor connection between the two parts of the home forced them to step outside, even during a snowy winter, and experience nature daily.

When they became a family of 6 and outgrew this space, they began building an independent “Boys’ House” for their 4 sons. It’s half-buried into the hill and modeled after a seashell. When we stepped inside, it felt like entering an animal burrow with flowing chambers connected by tunneling. “It’s like the ultimate gopher cave,” suggested Gerdes.

The 2003 Cedar Fire burnt down most of the couple’s own bedroom, but it went right over the partially subterranean Boys' House (as well as their underground kiva), so the couple moved in here (their sons were now grown). “They talk about staying here as being a totally different space than their own homes,” explains Gerdes. “The round nature is what they call an amorphous space where you don't really know where you are at all times. You know, you're always surprised by the space.”

James Hubbell died this past spring, but the hillside hamlet he created continues to flourish. It’s now a site for artists to continue his work, crafting stained glass windows and metal works for others’ homes. It’s also open to public tours and is lived in by a caretaker couple who inhabit a “Cottage in the Woods” designed by James and his architect son Drew.

Photo credits: Otto Rigan, J Bisbee, Richard Gross

[loriturner]

I LOVE the Hubble House! I lived right up the street from there for a while - your drone footage showed the pasture we had our vintage trailer parked in. It’s such a wonderful place, and the night sky is perfect for star viewing due to lack of light pollution. Glad you guys got to make this video to share it with a wider audience!

[lyfandeth]

The world needs more whimsy. That's gorgeous.

[terri]

I first saw a Hubble sculpted building in the mid-1980s. My immediate reaction was...YES! This is what human dwellings SHOULD BE: earth- sheltered, curved, carved, fired (glass-making), surprising, whimsical, a visual answer spiritual delight!

Thank you, Kristen, for making this film of the Hubble "habitat". This one is a "keeper"!😊 ❤

[flyoverurbangarden]

This man should have lived for 400 years, his creative energies deserved so much more time. Our lives are too short.

[RPRosen-kifk]

I LOVE your style of filmmaking. I always feel like you let the story tell itself. I learn how others see life and am left with a sense of peace.

[tmcbgrrl]

Kirsten has such a lovely perspective & curiosity of the world around her. So grateful she shares it with us all! Great work KD xo

[SpanishEclectic]

When I saw the name Hubbell I had to click! Back when I was in High School my Mom had a membership to the San Diego Fine Art Museum, and one of the perks was tours of the Hubbell house once or twice a year. We went in 1978, and I adored everything. I also recall seeing a book on Spanish Architect Gaudi in Hubbell's office (I'd learned about Gaudi in Spanish class). Over the years I would see a door, window, swimming pool, or piece of furniture on a random upscale house, or in a magazine and know immediately that it was a Hubbell. I was so sad when I heard parts of the house were destroyed in the Cedar Fire. I love this newer building, and while it's not clear if anyone lives at the property now, it's wonderful to see there are still artists carrying on his work. This was such a pleasure, and the docent was very good with the details and history. I definitely remember those bathrooms, and my Mom came home with all kinds of ideas for making our Mid-Century home more artistic and cool.

[misslannie]

The way the lady switched between past and present tense when talking about Jim, it’s evident that his passing is still very raw.

[theintentionalist]

This whole house is a lifelong work of art. ❤

[lizasilomar]

The audio quality is excellent, her every word is distinguishable. Thank you.

[greenbrain]

I really appreciate how you show the place while speaking, and viewers don’t have to look at someone speaking while describing things. Thanks you!

[bluestar]

This is what creative freedom looks like!!

[mrjacktraeger]

That door with the wood burls is stunning

Fantastic 😂❤....wish you had been able to interview his children to hear from them what it was like to live in this whimsical, fabulous world!.

[ionecuff]

WOW! What an amazing and talented man to be able to envision and create so much beauty. It's almost as if he was listening to nature to tell him where and how to build. I love the boys' bedroom building. Even though I am a 70+ yr old great-grandma, I would love to have a room like that, a never ending adventure. I never knew those buildings were there, I don't live far from there. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful and amazing estate. He and his wife were definitely very much in love and had so much respect for each other, their family, and nature. Such a beautiful legacy.

[fredsimmons]

Just when I think Kirsten has given us something special, she delivers something very special.Its comforting knowing people like Kirsten and the people she visits exist and existed.

[shefalisharma]

This is probably one of the best pieces of architecture and interior design that I’ve seen in your channel … every little thing was awe inspiring .. the bathroom was just amazingly beautiful.. it’s like going into a different era in history.. truly motivating and inspiring work with compassion and the need to be protected by nature ..!!! Caving in ..!!!

[darenayee]

What a magical place they’ve created. The seashell ebb and flow of the roofs. The shadows of colored glass on the floor below. All of it! Thank you for taking us along!

[yourkingdomcomeyourwillbedone]

Wow that is absolutely beautiful. I wish more homes and buildings were like this

[starkparker]

Super nice. They must have been extremely hard workers.