Is This the Most Dramatic Architecture Movie Ever Made?

The estate agent in charge of selling a Tadao Ando-designed ranch created a truly epic trailer.

Paul Keskeys Paul Keskeys

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If there is one architect whose work requires little in the way of dramatizing to reveal its poetic power to a wide audience, it is Tadao Ando. The Japanese minimalist is known for architecture that combines a quiet atmosphere with bold, almost theatrical forms in exposed concrete, his most iconic works packing a visceral punch that is arguably unparalleled in contemporary design.

Despite this fact, the estate agent in charge of selling Tom Ford’s Ando-designed Cerro Pelon Ranch has cranked up the drama to even more epic levels in his recent movie, designed to capture the imagination and the heart of potential buyers. Kevin Bobolsky has pulled out all the stops to promote this striking residence, now on the market for a reported $75 million dollars:

The trailer shows how the residence simultaneously contrasts and sits in harmony with its stunning natural context, the rolling plains of the Galisteo Basin in Santa Fe County. The plot is truly vast, including 20,662 acres (32 square miles) of land — some 10 square miles larger than the entire Manhattan Island.

“Ando’s main residence and horse facility compound was built with superior construction and overseen by internationally recognized architect and design-build firm, Marmol Radziner,” explains Bobolsky. “The stunning main residence floats on a reflecting pool and is adjoined by a state-of-the-art horse barn with eight stalls. The circular spaces of the indoor and outdoor riding arenas perfectly complement this architectural masterpiece.”

The price is steep, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the sale includes four further Radziner-designed buildings — each containing staff quarters — together with multiple warehouses for ranch equipment and a private air strip and hangar. There is also a second Tadao Ando–designed compound planned for the ranch, as indicated on the above map.

Ando Trailer Cerro Pelon

Furthermore, Silverado Movie Town — a “wild west ghost town” used as the set for films such as “Wild Wild West” and “Cowboys & Aliens” — is located in the upper east corner of the land.

So, perhaps Bobolsky was right to give this particular property the Hollywood treatment, given its star-spangled history. What do you think architects — could this be your dream home?

Silverado Movie Town comes in with the sale.

Be sure to explore more of Tadao Ando’s projects on his firm profile, and explore the architect’s practice in King of Concrete: Inside Tadao Ando’s Self-Designed Architecture Studio.

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All images and video courtesy of Kevin Bobolsky Group / © 2016 Cerro Pelon Ranch

Paul Keskeys Author: Paul Keskeys
Paul Keskeys is Editor in Chief at Architizer. An architect-trained editor, writer and content creator, Paul graduated from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, gaining an MArch in Architectural Design with distinction. Paul has spoken about the art of architecture and storytelling at many national industry events, including AIANY, NeoCon, KBIS, the Future NOW Symposium, the Young Architect Conference and NYCxDesign. As well as hundreds of editorial publications on Architizer, Paul has also had features published in Architectural Digest, PIN—UP Magazine, Archinect, Aesthetica Magazine and PUBLIC Journal.
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