Page 68 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2021 REDISCOVERING CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST

Jeff Shelton Self-guided picked up an illustrated guide and
Architecture Tour map for the whimsical works of
local architect Jeff Shelton. He
One of Santa Barbara’s defining
turns tradition on its head with
features is architecture. Explor-
ing city streets, its clear city lead- imaginative, almost Suessian, in-
terpretations of Santa Barbara’s
ers have cultivated a consistent
Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Santa Barbara style - red tile
roofs, whitewashed exteriors, Fans from around the world track
rustic woods wrought iron, and down his distinctive buildings,
created with a team of local
colorful tile accents that echo
builders, artisans and craftspeo-
those in Spain. On our jaunts, we
passed remodels and new con- ple.
struction, most carefully designed We spent a morning and early
afternoon trekking from one delightful project to
to fit this aesthetic rooted in the city’s past.
the other — all within a 10-block downtown area. If
There are several self-guided walking tours of
you go, give yourself plenty of time to discover and
Santa Barbara that take in local landmarks, includ-
enjoy the beautiful, whimsical details in each.
ing architecture. At our hotel’s front desk, we

Left: Bright colors and whimsicle details in
Jeff Shelton’s arches, benches and doors
typical on El Andaluz (531 Chapala
Street), an upscale condo complex built on
the site of a former parking lot.
Top: Architect Jeff Shelton:
Right: Ablitt Tower (13 West Haley
Street), sits on a 20 x 20 foot lot set on the
back of a commercial alley.