Casa Denise

Casa Glendee

Casa Glendee is our second project in the La Noria Section of Puerto Los Cabos, for a descriminating client who wanted an exciting, yet classic, home, in the Mexican tradition. Two story campenario entry, breathtaking views of Palmilla point from both floors, an open, flowing floorplan for practical indoor/outdoor living, Casa Glendee blends modern convenience with classic mainland villa style. The home will require being raised 3 meters above its pad level to accomplish the view imperative, and the finished product should be a showpiece in the community. Features include a rooftop whale watching deck, a series of unobtrusive retaining walls to create a graceful sloping facade, an entry courtyard with fountain, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a large family/media room, disappearing walls and ocean-view tubs, a greatroom, a breakfast/cocktail deck with teebox view, and a host of other desirable appointments. This design was the client's second approach to the lot, after their first architect's design had them rethinking their concept and wanting a different perspective to their property. Perched on one of the most prominent points in La Noria, they wanted the most enlightened design they could create, and together with the CD design team, that design goal became reality. Plan is in the HOA review process, ecology has been out and signed off on the lot, and foundation and retention work should commence second or third week of October, and take approximately 8 to 9 weeks. Home will take 9-10 months after that.

9/25. Raw land, cactus to be relocated per ecology department's directive, waiting for the stamp and go ahead from PLC.

10/18 - Platform, landfill and column construction commences. The lot is cleared, the protected species having been moved to the PLC nursery. This lot will need to be raised almost 3 full meters above it's natural elevation, and we will be building a substructure of concrete and rebar columns to support the house. It's really like building a 3 story home, with the lower story being substricture. Think underground parking garage. This will take 8 to 9 weeks, and then the home construction commences.

11/09. The columns are in place. Ground floor will be the level where the top of the rebar bends are located. The technique being used is to essentially build a three story home, where the bottom story will be hidden from view and will be the structure upon which the two story home above resides. More stable than building up with dirt 3 meters, this technique allows us to get the ground floor to a level where the views clear to Palmilla Point will be unobstructed.

11/24 - Sub-platform taking shape as the walls start going up, and more columns are built. Should be done in a few more weeks, with the real construction starting immediately thereafter.

12/16 - Almost done with the subframe, now bending all the rebar to create the massive home floor. There will be about two weeks lost for the holidays, and then the world starts turning again around January 5.

1-14. All the rebar has been bent and the structural substructure for the floor has been created. Electric, plumbing and gas have been run, and on Saturday, the ground floor of the house was poured.

1-30. The ground floor now almost complete, the preparations will begin the next week for prepping and pouring the second floor.

2/10 - And they are preparing the supports for the second floor to be poured.

2/25 - The second floor is poured, and the walls are going up.

The happy owners stand on their first floor.

3/7 - The upstairs walls are largely done, and preparations are beginning to put the roof on. This will get delayed a week or two due to several client-requested changes that will require additional structural support. The greatroom is being pushed out another meter, which will require additional structural changes, however overall the project should be back on track within a few weeks. Note the campenaria taking shape.

3/20 - final touches being put on the top floor now that the changes are largely done. Roof to be poured next week.

Downstairs plastering almost done, and work on the brick dome over the campenario started.

4/15 - Overhang going into place, columns going up. Concrete finishwork on the domes almost done. Arches now complete on side facade.

Dirt continuing to be moved onto the lot to raise the surrounding terrain up to the house level.

5/22 - Clients were in town, so no need for photos. Hence the break in covereage. House is moving along, flooring going in, exterior finishing progressing.

Borders around curved walls. Not easy. Don't try this at home...

Detail of the shower going in. Note the bench seat.

The last of the plaster work, on the greatroom. That should all be done within another week or so, which leaves many small details to cover, installation of flooring, plumbing and granite, electric fixtures, windows, carpentry, paint, ironwork, and the pool.

Exterior finishes proceeding.

Interior plaster largel done, ready for paint.

7/01 Front facade looking nice.

Flooring going in. Fireplaces beginning to be constructed.

7/24 - Things continue apace.

A coat of primer on the house.

Why...are those bullnosed travertine stairs? Niiiiice!

Chestnuts roasting, on an open (albeit gas) fire.....

7/31 - Paint is starting to go on...

Starting to look like a pretty impressive house on the hill...

Flooring largely done (interior).

Once the paint is done, the pool will be next.

8-10

House now has two coats of exterior paint on it. color appears darker and oranger in photos due to lighting and camera artifacts, but it's the correct color.

Railings starting to go up.

Nice circular design being started for the driveway rotunda.

Sheetrock about done, should be ready for the windows fairly soon.

Iron railing ready to start to go up next week or so.

Fireplace on lower floor done. Got approval (finally) for a pool design, will start on that in next few weeks.

8/23 - Progress is being made. Now about 6 to 7 weeks from completion, waiting for the window guy to show up and start, then the cabinet boxes, then granite, then finish plumbing and electrical, then cleanup. During that time the pool also gets build and pebbleteched, and exterior flourishes get handled.

Cantera top terrace in.

Medallion in place in entry foyer.

Brick dome fully bricked now.

Detail of one of the bathrooms.

That would be the roof on the house...

Working on the driveway.

9/25 - House is a week and a half to two weeks away from being done. Delays due to small storms, change orders and additions, and windows guys taking their sweet time. But all in all, getting done...

Nice looking bullnosed travertine stairs there...

Last of the cantera going in today and tomorrow. Cantera truck was a week late - go figure. Pocket doors about done, windows scheduled to be done by week end.

Let there be light.

River rock detail by a door.

Pool equipment being tested (lines) and installed. Pebbletech scheduled for next week or so.

Looking pretty well along. The rest of the ironwork goes in over the next week or so, the boxes for the carpentry go in on Friday and Saturday, and Granite is scheduled for Monday through Friday. So by the end of next week, should be about ready for detail work and the pick-up crew to go in and finish the interior, while the tile is done on the infinity edge of the pool, and the rest of exterior detail gets finished up. September is a tough month due to storm interruptions, several long holidays (MX indepedence and such), and additions to the design. Still, closing in on the finish line!

11-5 - The fountain finally arrived, and is being installed in the front courtyard, which also received a new iron railing treatment. House is finished. Some drawers need to be installed, and a few of the closets require finishing, and a bit of clean up and pick up crew action still has to happen, but by Friday or Monday, the place is done and will be all locked up.