Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church

20,000 s.f.
La Jolla, California

Located just below the ridge of Mount Soledad on a grassy plateau, this church has unobstructed views of the mountains to he east and south over all of San Diego to the Pacific Ocean. The Master Plan we developed with the congregation envisioned maintaining the open grass field lined with mature Torrey Pine trees, renovating the existing multi-function hall into and education facility, adding on a new contemporary sanctuary and a new children center available to the community.

The architecture was inspired from the Southern California climate and our south facing exposure. Covered loggias with deep arches and colonnades connect the building to the site and provide and extension to the community. The white washed plaster walls and mission red tile roofs evoke contemporary mission architecture with images of Irving Gill. The interior continues the openness of the site, extending to the terraces beyond. Clerestory windows flood light into the sanctuary and the arched windows open to the views beyond. The design of this facility was a congregation community effort through design workshops and successful phasing of the project.