Lighting a Masterpiece: Ricardo Legorreta’s Sonoma House

Photo Credit: Legorreta

One of EJA's early collaborations was with renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta (1931–2011). The timeless Sonoma ranch featured a world-class art collection, which EJA elegantly illuminated. Legorreta fused modernist principles with vibrant color, light, and traditional Mexican forms. A protégé of José Villagrán García and influenced by Luis Barragán, he drew inspiration from Giorgio de Chirico's metaphysical paintings, developing a distinctive visual vocabulary. The 11,840 sq ft terracotta-hued Sonoma House appears to rise magically from the earth, looking as if it were always a part of it. Legorreta captured the light, atmosphere, and soul of the land.

Photo Credit: EJA Lighting Design

Rather than install a formal gallery for the art, the architect integrated the collection throughout the pavilion-style interiors that clustered around a courtyard. Among the pieces that EJA illuminated was a minimalist but monumental stack sculpture by Donald Judd, “Untitled” (1988), that hung in a hallway. At the end of the arched corridor, a large abstract by German artist Gerhard Richter made a statement. In the living room, essential works included Brice Marden's painting, "Cold Mountain 3" (1989-91), inspired by the work of a Chinese T'ang Dynasty poet, and Susan Rothenberg's equine-themed “Squeeze" (1978-79).  

Photo Credit: Cello & Maudru Construction

Given the importance of their art collection, the homeowners were very hands-on about the interior design, but did work with Ivy Rosequist (1934-2008). Rosequist studied at the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design before joining Gump’s and developing her own interior design business. The home she transformed in the 1970s from a 1940s beach bungalow into a seaside villa with her then-husband, Ron Mann, became a famous design and environmental showcase. Rosequist's modernist aesthetics complemented Legorreta's architecture and the owners' art collection. The compound built by Cello & Maudru Construction in the early '90s remains ageless.