1. D I S T I N C T I V E C O M M U N I T I E S B Y
D E L M A R D E V E L O P M E N T
Villas Del Mar
Espiritu Del Mar
Oasis Palmilla
homes to
last 100 years
for generations
to enjoy
the color of cabo
a spectacular
collection of images
perfected
the art of
living
escapesL O S C A B O S  M E X I C O
DelMar

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BUILT TO
LAST FOR
GENERATIONS
TO ENJOY
hundred-year
home
the
There are many remarkable sights to
see along the 20-mile stretch of scenic
Baja California coastline called Los
Cabos. Some are natural phenomena
such as the majestic rock formations
at Land’s End; while others are cultural,
such as the old mission in San Jose
del Cabo (circa 1730). But one sight
combines these elements of land
sculpted by nature with the visionary
touch of human hands: Casita Mountain
in Villas Del Mar, a majestic point of
land overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
BYKATHRYNHELTSLEY

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SOLD BEFORE COMPLETION,
THOSE SIX VILLAS REPRESENTED
THE BEGINNINGS OF VILLAS
DEL MAR AND PROVED THERE
WAS IMMENSE POTENTIAL IN
THE STEEP, DRAMATIC HILLSIDE
OVERLOOKING THE SEA.
With all the development along this magical
coastline, what is it about Casita Mountain and
Villas Del Mar that sets it apart and makes people
want to take a closer look? According to Robert
Jones, Vice President of Construction at Del Mar
Development, it is the appropriate use of the
land and the construction of homes built to last
for generations to enjoy. “The concept of the
Hundred-Year Home is a reflection of something
that I see happening down here,” Jones says. “If
you look at the old-world architecture of places
like Montemarte in France, there is an intangible
quality to them. Those communities fit perfectly
into their space. You just know that they’ve
been there for a hundred years and they will be
steep, dramatic hillside overlooking the sea that other
developers had thought to be unbuildable.
This passion for the land is evident in the fabric of
Villas Del Mar, as well as in the neighboring communi-
ties of Espiritu Del Mar and Oasis Palmilla. “We envision
each community and how it will interact with the site,”
Jones says. “This initial survey is just as important as the
specifics of each individual house.”
Long-time Villas Del Mar resident Dick Michaux
couldn’t agree more. Michaux and his wife Ginny have
lived in Villas Del Mar since 1999. “When we first came to
Villas Del Mar we weren’t really looking for a place, but
we were captured by the location, the charm and the
weather,” he says.
The Michauxs now have six grandchildren and a lot
Robert Jones, Vice President of Construction for
Del Mar Development, believes in first impres-
sions. “I call it the First Seven Seconds,” he says.
“The first passage into the house is critical. A
person can walk into a home and say, ‘I love it.’
That’s why we’ve added archways, immediate
views out to the sea, intricately crafted wrought
iron gates off the street and artisan touches
throughout the home.”
Jones says his mission—for the important
first seven seconds and beyond—is to make
homeowners’ dreams come true. “The quality of
the design, craftsmanship and materials of our
homes is a given,” he says. “So what I concentrate
on is the dream. Between someone’s needs are
their dreams. If you are listening, you can hear
that. We design to those dreams.
Those intangibles, those dreams, are what
Jones translates into the design of a home.
“We’ve built yoga rooms, writing rooms, chef’s
kitchens,” he says. “Those are the things that
transform a house into a dream home.
“One homeowner talked about how much he
enjoyed fresh-squeezed limes in his margaritas,
so we added fruit-bearing lime trees in the yard.
Another homeowner remarked how much she
loved sliced Mexican mangoes for breakfast,
so we planted her mango trees. Another said
how much she loved the smell of plumeria, so
we planted plumeria at her entry so she got
that scent every time she walked into her home.
Those things are not on the design plan, but
those are the things I listen for.”
there for a hundred more. That is what Casita
Mountain is, without a doubt.”
A n E x t r a o r d i n a r y Si t e
Del Mar Development was formed soon after
developers Ron Hatfield and Kenneth Schnitzer
discovered the site while vacationing in Palmilla
in 1995. Immediately recognizing that they had
encountered something extraordinary, the duo
bought the land and built six villas, harnessing
innovation and a passionate commitment
to quality that was previously unheard of in
Cabo. Sold before completion, those six villas
represented the beginnings of Villas Del Mar
and proved there was immense potential in the
designing
the dream

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Long-time Villas Del Mar resident
Dick Michaux and his wife Ginny
have lived in Villas Del Mar since
1999. “When we first came to Villas
Del Mar we weren’t really looking
for a place, but we were captured
by the location, the charm and
the weather,” he says.
of memories surrounding their home in Villas Del
Mar. In residence from the middle of November
to the first week of April, the Michaux’s two
children and their families visit during the
holidays, and Spring Break has become a family
tradition. “We have a big multi-generation and
multi-family week, and everyone just pitches in
to get things done,” Michaux says. “The highlight
for the parents in coming down here is to enjoy
their children. They work hard, and when they
come down here they just want to spend time
with the kids.”
Other activities take a backseat to quality fam-
ily time for the Michaux clan. Life centers around
the beach and the pool, as well as the kitchen.
“We cook, we enjoy meals together, eat healthily
at home,” he says. The kitchen and options for
outdoor living are big sources of satisfaction and
fit perfectly with their Los Cabos lifestyle.
Ro c k- S o l i d Fo u n d a t i o n
Jones’goal is to build a community of homes that
will last for centuries, taking on the venerable feel
of the neighborhoods he so admires in other parts
of the world. To accomplish this, he and his team
consider long-term questions, such as the best
use of the land to withstand the tests of time
and nature. A lot of planning goes into protect-
ing the views and emphasizing the quality of
the architectural design of each home and its
relationship with the setting.
Eschewing the “McMansion” concept, Jones
focuses on creating an architectural brand
authentic to Old Mexico. “We do that by paying
attention to the details,” Jones explains. “The
people we work with are all very passionate
about the design process, and in the end, these
passionate designers leave behind a product
that has an emotional honesty.”
The Michaux family experienced this
passionate creative process when their home
was built. When they first arrived all they saw
was a piece of earth with lines denoting the
outer walls. Even though the house was not
yet built, the surrounding community inspired
confidence. “The double seawall they had built
went all the way down to the bedrock,” Dick
says. “That gave us the feeling that our home
wasn’t going to wash away. We bought the
dirt with lines, started dreaming about it, and
when we moved in it was everything we had
dreamed about.”
As they watched their dream home unfold,
the Michauxs got to know the construction
crew and developed a friendship with Jones
which remains steadfast today. “We got to know
Robert,” Michaux says, “and he translated our
choices into reality. It’s what I call world-class real
estate in a world-class setting.”
A Se n se o f P r ese n c e
When you walk into one of Jones’homes, the
house itself has a strong sense of presence. “I see
people react to it all the time,”says Jones. The
home feels stable, solid and handmade. Nothing
is prefabricated; everything is made on site with
the finest quality materials. In addition, Del Mar
Construction sources many local and indigenous
materials, giving the home a real sense of
belonging within the location.
In his designs, Jones pairs opposing con-
cepts to make everyday experiences extraor-
dinary, such as taking a shower with an ocean
view, or having a dining room under the stars.
Carefully crafted piece by piece, the homes
are also designed to be low maintenance.
“The less there is to maintain, the longer the
house is going to last,” is Jones’ philosophy.
Michaux echoes this sentiment. “We
never have to worry about the structure
itself,” he says. This allows the family a more
carefree lifestyle. Michaux likes the fact that
when they arrive each year in November,
“everything has been set up for us and it’s
shiny and bright.” No concern about cracks
in the ceiling, leaky faucets or storm dam-
age. And if there was a problem, Michaux
says, “The great thing is that Robert Jones is
still there. They have given us the legacy of
great management.”
Jones gets a lot of his inspiration and
design ideas by listening to the owners.
Listening, he says, opens him up to new
ideas and shows him new ways to deliver
on dreams. “We’ve built the houses, but
the people that go in and occupy them are
the special element,” he says. “The owners
provide the most important intangible. It is
they who will make sure Villas Del Mar stays
pure for years and years to come.” 
DEL MAR
CONSTRUCTION
SOURCES MANY
LOCAL AND
INDIGENOUS
MATERIALS, GIVING
THE HOME A
REAL SENSE OF
BELONGING WITHIN
THE LOCATION.