When planners for Crystal Cove at Newport Coast set out to create this distinctive California seaside community, they drew much of their inspiration from historic Santa Barbara and Palos Verdes. In these communities, timeless, beautifully designed Spanish colonial style architecture, charming neighborhoods and a well-planned overall landscape structure create a harmonious and attractive environment.
Among the many similarities between these communities and Crystal Cove are the mild climate, hillside topography and impressive ocean front location.
“The plan for Crystal Cove builds upon the topographic qualities of its location, and engages the adjacent open space with the streets in dramatic ways,” said Rob Elliott, senior vice president of the Urban Planning and Design Department for The Irvine Company.
Nestled above Pacific Coast Highway, Crystal Cove is located within the coastal hills of Newport Coast and is only minutes away from Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Irvine.
The community lies above the historical Crystal Cove State Park, representing more than 2,000 acres of natural coastline, wilderness and parklands, as well as a beach, and bordered by the Pelican Hill Golf Club, Los Trancos Canyon, Muddy Canyon, and the open space of Newport Coast.
“A core element of its unique coastal location is the abundance of adjacent open space that completely encircles the three remaining sides of the community, including many walking and hiking trails of Newport Coast,” he said.
Crystal Cove residents will enjoy easy access to the beach as well as to planned retail amenities. Plans call for pedestrian access points to the ocean, one of which is through a lighted tunnel under Pacific Coast Highway. A convenient golf cart parking area is nearby.
The planned Crystal Cove Promenade retail center was inspired by some of the outstanding qualities of Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes.
The architects envision a distinctive sense of scale and detail, enhanced by a bold central courtyard of palm trees.
Distinctive Homes That Reflect the Character
of Crystal Cove
“Knowing that the view of Crystal Cove homes from Pacific Coast Highway is especially important because it is the first impression people will have of this new hillside neighborhood, we took pains to avoid a repetitive horizontal row of homes,” said Elliott.
Instead, lot widths will vary from house to house to avoid monotony and add variety, and the majority of streets will be single-loaded and follow the sloping contours of the site.
“The Spanish colonial architectural style works so well in Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes and Crystal Cove because it is a style reminiscent of the Spanish heritage of California and incorporates the indoor/outdoor living arrangements which are ideally suited to California’s coastal climate and lifestyle,” he said.
In keeping with this architectural character, the homes designed for Crystal Cove are elegant in their simplicity, featuring traditional stucco walls and expressive detailing. Each floor plan and elevation is unique. Additionally, the garage configurations are varied and well integrated into the architecture so that the streets are not dominated by rows of repetitive garage doors.
“Much of what adds character to these homes is the authenticity of the building materials and details,” he noted. “For example, all the homes in Crystal Cove use real two-piece clay barrel tile roofs in a mix of blended colors and sizes and are laid up in a way to give a custom handcrafted appearance to each roof.”
Stucco walls have an authentic smooth finish and the windows have clad wood casements colored on the exterior in traditional browns, tans and olives to add a more authentic detail to the elevations.
The home plans incorporate courtyards, decorative tile accents, towers, shaped wood rafter tails, classical stucco eaves, decorative chimneys, and wrought iron details in balconies and windows.
Announcing the First Home Collections
Now selling at Crystal Cove is Seabourn by Standard Pacific, showcasing one and two-story luxury homes with from three to six bedrooms, two and one-half to five and one-half baths and from 2,500 to 4,014 square feet, priced from the high $900,000s. Models opened on June 10. For information, call 949/376-2878.
Prior to model completion, Windward by Richmond American Homes is now pre-selling deluxe one and two-story residences with from three to five bedrooms, three and one-half to five and one-half baths and from 3,662 to 4,635 square feet, priced from $1.7 million. For information, call 949/464-1940.
Also pre-selling is Watermark by Taylor Woodrow, featuring expansive one and two-story homes with from four to eight bedrooms, four to five full baths and three half baths and from 4,959 to 5,309 square feet, priced from approximately $2.6 million. For information, call 949/376-3184.
Previewing by Fall 2000, Seascape by Greystone Homes will feature multi-level attached luxury villas with from three to five bedrooms, three and one-half to five and one-half baths and from 2,876 to 4,219 square feet, priced from just under $1 million. For information or to be on the Interest Registry, call 800/808-6888.
Crystal Cove is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Visit the Crystal Cove Web site at www.CrystalCove.IrvineCo.com.
