The result is a monolithic concrete shell, not unlike a ferro-cement ship, that is strong enough to withstand a earthquake or a hurricane. Once they are covered with concrete, the walls can be finished with pigmented stucco for a look that is as timeless as mud. The exterior walls may be a product of late 20th-century technology, but the signature details and shapes have no patent numbers. Adobe blocks anchored with steel ties to the interior wood-frame walls and exterior masonry walls line the interior of the main room. They create a space akin to one of California's early haciendas.
Arches are a repeating shape throughout the house, both in windows and in interior passageways .
Sandstone sills create the sloped base for the windows. In California, the threat of fire posed by long dry summers is a serious consideration. Whatever wood is exposed to the elements is big enough to be hard to ignite. And the landscaping is designed to provide color and texture, but not fuel, to the gardens.