From hands-on beginnings in the 1960s growing up on his family’s land in the rolling hills of Santa Ysabel, California, Drew Hubbell built a lifelong foundation in artful construction rooted in nature. He shaped adobe, welded steel, installed mosaic tile, and crafted whimsical structures alongside his 3 siblings and parents on what is nicknamed “Hubbell Hill,” now called The Ilan-Lael Foundation.

Formally trained across the U.S. and Europe, with design influences shaped by travels through Asia and East Africa, Drew’s work reflects a deep respect for place and environment.

From an imaginative underwater home concept off Windansea Beach for his first commission to early career experience in historic preservation under Milford Wayne Donaldson from 1988 to 1994, Drew’s approach blends innovation with tradition.

In 1995, Drew decided to put his skills and knowledge to work in tandem with his father’s, and he set up Hubbell & Hubbell Architects as a small architecture firm with a practice rooted in sustainable design, craftsmanship, and a lifelong connection to the land. Although geographically located in different parts of San Diego County – Drew worked from San Diego and James worked out of his Santa Ysabel art studio, their collaborations were close. James passed away in 2024, but the legacy of Hubbell craftsmanship continues.

Now 30 years into his practice, Drew continues to advance the boundaries of sustainable design, exploring innovative building systems and materials—from straw bale and insulated composite concrete forms to high-performance foam core sandwich panels. He has extensive experience in commercial and non-profit designs as well as some tribal projects, and has a focus on unique residential projects. The firm approaches each design as a collaborative, creative process—merging architecture, art, and ecology into spaces that feel both timeless and deeply connected to place.

Today, the family tradition is carried forward. Drew’s son, Dylan, is working at the architecture firm while his other son, Connor, is a full-time artist and caretaker at the Ilan-Lael Foundation.

If you’re ready to see your dream home come to life, contact Hubbell & Hubbell here today.
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