El Fureidis

631 Parra Grande LaneJames Waldron Gillespie, founder of El Fureidis, was a visionary hailing from New York who came to the West Coast looking for a location with a landscape and a climate that rivaled that of the Mediterranean. Captivated by the beauty of the ocean and the tranquility of the mountains, Gillespie chose Montecito, California, as the ideal location for his proposed estate.

In 1899, Gillespie purchased a large plot of oceanview property and commissioned renowned American architect Bertram Goodhue to build his villa. To gain inspiration for the estate, they set off on a trip across Europe, the Mediterranean, Persia and India to study the gardens and buildings. By 1904, the plans for El Fureidis were in place and incorporated numerous architectural styles and elements that were inspired by Gillespie’s world travels. In 1906 the estate was complete and the diverse agricultural elements such as palms, figs and redwoods, came together to create one of the most expansive gardens in the area. The completion of the estate marked the start of a new architectural trend on the West Coast, as well as the birth of Montecito’s “Little Paradise”.

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Bertram Goodhue was an architect of exceptional vision. By blending Roman, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Persian influences, Goodhue introduced a new architectural trend to the West Coast. He is credited with popularizing the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that is seen throughout California and, most notably, in Santa Barbara. Goodhue is best known for his design work at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York, the Los Angeles Central Library, the original campus and chapel at Westpoint University, and the Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago.

“Beautiful architecture is just as much in my mind a matter of inspiration as

poetry, painting, or sculpture”

Original Photo of El Fureidis - 1906

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Reinforced by concrete and steel, the neoclassical estate has remained relatively unaltered, allowing the integrity of the original structure, build, and form to be upheld. The entrance features original tile work depicting Gillespie, Goodhue, and friends at one of the many infamous parties held at El Fureidis. Timeless original features such as tiles hand selected by Gillespie and Goodhue, copper doors, light fixtures, and brass hardware continue to adorn the estate.

Original Details

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8 Original Photo of El Fureidis - 1906

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Gillespie was always surrounded by an air of mystery, partly due to his frequent travels and absence from Montecito. After the completion of El Fureidis in 1906, the allure of the estate’s 10,000 square feet, various 24k gold leaf murals, and unrivaled persian garden became the center of Santa Barbara’s social scene. Built for entertaining, El Fureidis was known for being the host of extravagant weddings, masked balls, and lavish parties. In Gillespie’s absence, the Santa Barbara social scene would wait in anticipation for the next opportunity to experience the decadence of El Fureidis.

“His presence here is always the signal for renewed activities in a social way.”

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Gillespie was infatuated with Persian culture, and was captivated by the history behind the Persian Capital of Persepolis. The dining room features a magnificent barreled ceiling painted with murals depicting Alexander the Great conquering Persepolis. Architect Bertram Goodhue commissioned artist Henry Wadsworth Moore to hand paint the mural on 24k gold leaf. Gillespie was so impressed by Moore’s work that he hired him to paint murals for his various estates across the East Coast

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Conversation RoomThe conversation room has remained the piéce de résistance of the house. It features hand painted, elaborate bronze, gold, and blue designs that cover the walls using 24k gold leaf. The Byzantine-style alcove is crowned with an 18-foot-high central dome that is decorated with a floral gold-leaf design, modeled after the church of St. John Lateran in Rome.

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Architectural History

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When it was built in 1906, El Fureidis was known for its unique architecture and one of a kind details. Over 100 years later, these same characteristics continue to distinguish El Fureidis. The timeless architectural style can be seen through features like the Roman inspired pillars in the gallery, which were part of the original design. Even after the recent modernization with new electric wiring, copper plumbing, central heating, and air conditioning, the integrity of the original building continues to be upheld.

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John F. Kennedy is said to have visited El Fureidis during his honeymoon in 1953. Today, the master suite

is still the perfect setting to wake up to on a honeymoon or everyday. The area creates a feeling of secluded elegance with it’s sumptuous wood burning fireplace and blue hand stenciled ceilings representing the heavens. The feeling of luxury is accentuated through the expansive living spaces, spacious walk-in closet, soft natural lighting, and private access to the outdoor fountains and beautiful gardens.

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The estate’s welcoming allure has appealed to many othersthroughout the years, such as Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill. When Goodhue and Gillespie designed the home, they wanted to assure that visitors would be enthralled by the accommodations El Fureidis provided. Today, the top floor includes three recently remodeled guest rooms. True to the estates original design, each guest room has its own private bath and access to an outdoor area that overlooks the expansive 10 acres of the property.

Be Our Guest

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est. 1903

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El Fureidis has always been celebrated for its unique blend of architecture and art. In search of a location that could encompass historical significance and extravagance, Brian De Palma, director of 1983’s Scarface, chose El Fureidis as the location for exterior shots of Tony Montana’s Coral Gables home. Situated between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, El Fureidis is an iconic expression of ultimate luxury.

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Lee Lawrie and architect Bertram Goodhue collaborated on many projects, which brought Lawrie to the forefront of the architectural industry. Lee Lawrie is now one of the United States’ most influential architectural sculptors, best known for the Atlas sculpture at Rockefeller Center. El Fureidis features numerous pieces created by Lawrie, including nine bas-reliefs that form a band between the top of the columns on the south exterior side of the estate and feature Lawrie’s signature etched in the stone. Each relief is unique and depicts a different scene from the Arthurian legends.

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Goodhue designed El Fureidis around a central gathering area by ensuring that the common space on the main floor opened into the atrium. Influenced by ancient roman architecture, the atrium was originally built to collect rainwater from the roofs of the home, which would later be used to water the exotic gardens. Today, the space is ideal for al fresco dining and open air entertaining.

Central Atrium

Original Atrium Sketch by Goodhue

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Sweeping Views

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The estate’s exquisite rooftop terrace provides 360 degree views of the lavish ten acre property, Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. The expansive rooftop space acts as the perfect setting for lounging under the sun, watching the sunset, or entertaining an elegant event with iconic Santa Barbara scenery.

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Bertram Goodhue kept true to the Persian belief that water is a rare and precious thing to be cherished. One of the most distinguishable elements of El Fureidis is the broad variety of water features seen throughout the estate. Originally, the pool was designed as a reservoir that would collect water for the elaborate gardens. The area now is ideal for lounging and features a tranquil swimming pool and spacious gazebo.

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When Gillespie envisioned his estate, he saw a grand villa surrounded by elaborate gardens. Being an enthusiastic collector of trees and shrubs, he brought in plants from all over the world to create the veritable jungle at El Fureidis. A magnificent fig tree, the largest in Montecito, consumes a portion of the east facing yard. Today, the 10-acre grounds are also home to Chilean wine palms, magnificent king palms, redwood sequoias, Italian cypress, citrus and walnut orchards, and a wide variety of other exotic plants.

Lush Grounds

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Ten Private Acres

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Enamored by the beauty of Montecito, Gillespie purchased a large plot of land and transformed it into one of the most beautiful gardens in the area. El Fureidis was considered to be one of the most extensive palm gardens in the United States in terms of size and number of species planted. The ten acre property, gated and located off Parra Grande Lane, remains an exemplar Southern California retreat.

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Persian gardens are known as a place to relax and connect with nature. Immensely inspired by their travels, Gillespie and Goodhue returned to Montecito with plans to create water gardens that would rival the beauty of any other Persian garden seen outside of Persia. The prevalent rectangular shape of the pools, terraces, and pathways in the gardens provide a tranquil atmosphere while water transports throughout the garden via narrow, shallow channels that are terraced to create cooling water.

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est. 1903

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Gillespie saw his first palm tree in an exhibition garden at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and quickly became infatuated. When the construction of El Fureidis began in 1903, Gillespie also started planting his gardens. He had over 125 exotic varieties of palms imported to the Montecito property. Today, the south facing slope is covered by a variety of trees that have experienced staggering growth over the past one hundred years.

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Montecito Paradise est. 1906

El Fureidis 631 Parra Grande LaneMontecito, California

www.MontecitoParadise.com