OTL’s Role:
The Lakes
LOCATION
San Diego, California
DEVELOPER
Lennar Corporation
PROJECT OVERVIEW
- Design
- Build
- Natural Streams & Waterways
- Natural Rockwork
The Lakes is an affluent single-family residential community in Carmel Valley, in Northern San Diego County, California. OTL first worked with developer Lennar Corporation on the community’s initial phase in 2008, returning in 2019 to complete its outdoor sanctuary. The result is a network of streams, waterfalls and rockwork trails with an entirely natural aesthetic.
PROJECT
CHALLENGE
OTL was tasked with making the neighborhood’s outdoor amenity feel completely authentic, with no manmade elements standing out. The scope called for extending an existing series of community streams by 900 lineal feet with more than 50 feet of vertical drop. The system also needed to stay low-maintenance and sustainable, without relying on chemicals.
OTL’S
SOLUTION
During the 2008 phase, OTL sized the pump system and plumbing so the network could be extended later. To keep the water naturally clean, OTL built a sustainable system relying on aquatic plantings for filtration instead of chemicals. Applying its Geo-Believability® approach, OTL trucked in 150 tons of boulders, shaping and placing them to create realistic splashing and eddies.
PROJECT
IMPACT
The Lakes’ trail system, with its rippling streams, waterfall and authentic rockwork, now serves as a welcome respite from everyday life. Residents return to the space again and again, drawn by OTL’s craftsmanship and artistic vision.
