The Sea Ranch Chapel
at The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County California's coastal region.
The Sea Ranch
Chapel in The Sea Ranch, California was designed in 1984 by James T. Hubbell, a San Diego-based
artist who's known for creating unique living environments for humans to
dwell in harmony with nature. Utilizing local materials in his projects, Sea
Ranch Chapel offers a perfect example of his work. Made with local stone,
the chapel walls create a foundation on which the building appears to sit.
Its cedar roof is accented with copper and crowned with a bronze spire,
echoing a nearby windswept tree. Teak doors complement the native redwood
used throughout the interior. A graceful plaster roof, resembling the petals
of a flower, crowns the interior space. Graceful metalwork is on display in
the chandelier and the screen behind the prayer desk. Carved seating is made
from local redwood.
A sign in front of this
unique structure states that "The nondenominational Chapel is for prayer and
meditation. Please respect its sanctity." Maintained for the use and
enjoyment of the public by the non-profit Sea Ranch Chapel Foundation, it is
open to the public daily, except when private events are held there
(available for a fee).
The Chapel was the gift of Sea Ranch residents Robert and Betty Buffum, who
envisioned a place for meditation and spiritual renewal near their home.
Familiar with the work of internationally renowned San Diego artist and
architect James T. Hubbell, the Buffums contracted him to create a
masterpiece that would inspire all who passed by.
Hubbell assembled a team of local artists and craftsmen, including
Construction Coordinator Thamby Kumaran, a local contractor specializing in
hand-crafted structures; Coordinating Architect Don Jacobs; and Landscape
Architect George Wickstead. The team strove to create a structure that
evoked a sense of harmony with its surroundings by echoing elements of the
forest, meadow, and sky.
The Sea Ranch Chapel is
located in Northern California approximately 110 miles north of San
Francisco on Highway 1 at Sonoma County mile 55.5. For more information on
renting the small facility, contact Sea Ranch Association Office
707-785-2444
