Starting this fall, Palomar College will offer a new Architecture and Design class inspired by James Hubbell’s organic approach to building, as a part of the college’s newly accredited four-year baccalaureate architecture program.
The course will focus on Hubbell’s techniques, including his application of native materials and use of biomimicry to enhance sustainable design. This human-centric approach teaches students how to learn by observing and experiencing spaces created by the renowned Santa Ysabel designer, who died in May 2024.
“By joining forces with Palomar College, we’re expanding access to design education and creating pathways for diverse voices to shape the spaces we live in,” said Marianne Gerdes, executive director at the Ilan-Lael Foundation. “The program is a great way to continue the James Hubbell’s legacy as it allows students to practice his fundamentals.”
The hands-on course allows students to work with a variety of different materials, including wood, metal, adobe, mosaic and stained glass, at the Ilan-Lael studios in Santa Ysabel. Students will experience firsthand Hubbell’s connection to nature and be encouraged to incorporate sustainable, organic practices into their designs. Hubbell’s unique philosophy will live on with the partnership between Ilan-Lael Foundation and Palomar College.
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