Audrey Geisel University House, University chancellor residence in La Jolla, San Diego, US.
Audrey Geisel University House is an adobe residence perched on a cliff in La Jolla that overlooks the beach, coastal preserve, and Pacific waters. Originally designed by architect William Lumpkins in 1950 and built for the Black family, it now functions as the chancellor's residence and university event space.
This Pueblo Revival building was constructed in 1950 as a private home from unreinforced adobe before the university took it over in 1967. A major renovation in 2013 updated the structure while protecting the archaeological remains beneath it.
The house occupies ground sacred to the Kumeyaay people, who once had a village and burial site here. Visitors can sense the deep connection between this place and its original inhabitants, whose presence shaped the land long before the current structure.
Access to the house is restricted and requires permission or an invitation to university events, making it difficult to visit without planning ahead. Interested visitors should contact the university directly to learn about tour availability and current public access policies.
Beneath the foundation lie archaeological layers dating back roughly 10,000 years, requiring specialized preservation techniques to keep both the structure and artifacts safe. This geological history makes the site a striking point where modern design meets human prehistory.
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