Our 2017 Annual Adventure

This year, selecting the destination of our annual adventure was easy – we were all enthusiastic to explore Hearst Castle.

Located in San Simeon along the California Central Coast, Hearst Castle is a treasured state and national historic landmark. Designed by pioneering architect Julia Morgan, the one-of-a-kind residence was built between 1919 and 1947 for legendary media magnate William Randolph Hearst and features Mediterranean Revival architecture. The Castle (also known as “La Cuesta Encantada” or “The Enchanted Hill”) was recognized as a California State Park in 1958. Now the site is open for visitors to admire its extensive collection of art and antiques.

Together, we experienced both the upstairs tour and the architectural tour that wove through Sunset Cottage and the North Wing, which is the ‘newest’ part of the historical property. After winding our way through the manicured grounds, countless artistic artifacts, and curious architecture – we made our way to Centrally Grown in Cambria for lunch. With expansive ocean views, it was the perfect place to unwind as a team.

For Ellen Goodwin the highlight of the trip was learning more about Julia Morgan and her significance as a female architect in a time period where very few women were allowed to be working professionally, let alone as architects. One of the tour guides commented that even today, 100 years later, only 20% of architects are women.

“I had to smile to myself in pride, that our Studio Design Group Architects office is 50% women!”

After our Hearst Castle experience, everyone at Studio Design Group Architects is itching for international travel to see the origins of all the historic pieces we saw!

At Studio Design Group Architects, we bring a passion for sustainable, timeless design and a collective lifetime of experience to every project we take on. Get in touch with our team to learn more.