A classic 1960s John Mock house celebrates both its narrow site and commanding views.

In 1964—his first year as a partner in Hendrick & Mock Architects—John Mock built this 2,600-square-foot post-and-beam home on a long, narrow lot overlooking El Cajon Valley. To maximize space and views, Mock cantilevered the living space and decks over the lower bank of the property and incorporated floor-to-ceiling glass walls and windows. The architect upped the ceiling height in the living room and allowed the ceilings to drop in the bedrooms, creating a more intimate feel.

Beneath a flat tar-and-gravel roof with wide cave overhangs, exposed roof beams run the length of the residence. A courtyard with native plantings leads to a recessed entry with a double door that opens into a small, glass-walled foyer; all the main rooms open to a cedar observation deck. As part of a careful restoration, current residents Loretta and Mark Chavez added a pool and pond consistent with John Mock’s original vision.

About the Architect

John Mock is regarded by the county of San Diego as an important, creative award-winning Moderist architect. Over the course of his career, Mock designed nine custom homes for individuals, including himself, as well as some custom homes for developers. Most of the other projects designed by Mock through his firm, Hendrick & Mock Architects (1964-1994), included restaurants, multi-story hotels, apartments, and commercial, religious, and military buildings. In total, Mock's firm completed 686 projects, of which, 417 were constructed.

Collaborators

Architect John Mock and original owners Dr. Milton and June Ullman in 1964.

Restoration:
Design/Construction: Homeowners Mark & Loretta Chavez

Landscaping/Design: Todd Pitman, ASLA

Landscape Installation: Green Gardens Landscape

Deck Construction: Bill Gaskin Construction (619) 441-2680

Deck Railing: Richardson Steele (619) 697-5892

Pool and Pond: Maple Engineering (619) 733-6668

Kitchen Appliances: GE Monogram double oven; dishwasher and GE Profile 5 burner gas cooktop, plus Maytag full depth French door refrigerator. All from Humphrey Appliance.

Kitchen Dining area Furnishings: Pendant lamp hanging over Saarinen tulip table (Hive Modern) is a vintage Louis Poulsen PH 5 (ebay), the dining chairs are Eames Eiffel by Modernica

Flooring: Brazilian teak (BR-111) from Express Floors

Interior/Exterior Painting: Fred Rodriguez

Windows/Framing: D&G Windows, dgwindows@home.com (Windows: Milgard clear anodized aluminum Low E glass)

Paints: Dunn-Edwards (exterior siding “Bison Beige,” exterior trim “Cocoa” and interior/exterior ceilings trim “Droplets.”)

Art & Furnishings: Boomerang; Mid-Century (3795 Park Blvd); Klassik; Hive Modern; Modernica; Objects USA; St. Madeleine Sophie's Center.