It sits behind the heavy, guarded gates of Rolling Hills on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You’ve probably seen the aerial photos—that sprawling, red-tiled roof that looks more like a Mediterranean village than a single-family home. But here is the thing about Hacienda de la Paz: what you see from the street, or even from a drone, is basically a lie.
It’s a massive architectural flex that hides 90% of its soul underground.
John Z. Blazevich, the man who built it, didn't just want a big house. He spent 17 years obsessing over every single tile, every hand-carved beam, and every cubic yard of dirt excavated from the California hillside. When it finally hit the market years ago for $53 million, people lost their minds. Then it sold at auction for a fraction of that, and the real estate world went silent. Most people think it’s just another "mega-mansion," but they’re wrong. It’s actually a subterranean fortress of 10th-century Moorish art and 18th-century Spanish opulence.
The Man Who Dreamed in 17th-Century Spanish
You can't talk about this house without talking about John Blazevich. He’s the CEO of Viva Food Group, a shrimp mogul who decided his legacy wouldn't be seafood, but stone. He hired Rafael Manzano Martos, an architect who actually worked on the preservation of the Alhambra in Spain. Think about that for a second. Most LA billionaires hire a "designer to the stars." Blazevich hired a guy who spends his time thinking about how kings lived in the year 900.
The result? A 51,000-square-foot behemoth.
But it’s a weird 51,000 square feet. Because of Rolling Hills’ strict zoning laws, houses can only be one story tall. Blazevich looked at that rule and basically said, "Fine, I’ll go down." He dug 17 stories deep into the bedrock. It’s a literal iceberg of a house.
What’s Actually Inside the Underground Labyrinth
Walking into the foyer, you might think, "Okay, this is nice, very Mediterranean." But then you take the elevator. Or the stairs. You go down and down until you hit the 10th-century Moorish hammam.
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This isn't some "spa-inspired" bathroom with a steam shower from Home Depot. It’s a legitimate tribute to the baths of Cordoba. We’re talking about hand-carved marble, intricate geometric mosaics, and a silence that feels heavy. It took craftsmen from around the world years to finish just this one section.
Then there is the ballroom.
It’s 15,000 square feet. For context, the average American home is about 2,500 square feet. You could fit six entire houses inside this one room. It’s built in a neoclassical style that looks like it belongs in the Palace of Versailles. It doubles as an indoor red-clay tennis court because, honestly, why not? It’s also one of the only private indoor clay courts in the world that meets French Open specifications.
- The Neoclassical Grand Ballroom: Huge, echoing, and dripping in gold leaf.
- The Moorish Hammam: Deep, blue, and incredibly detailed tile work.
- The Chapel: Because every fortress needs a place for quiet reflection.
- The English Library: Two stories of wood-paneled walls and secret passages.
Why the Market Hated (and Loved) It
When Hacienda de la Paz first went on the market, the price tag was $53 million. It didn't sell. Then it was $48 million. Still nothing. Eventually, in 2018, it went to the auction block.
It sold for $22.4 million.
To most of us, that's an insane amount of money. To the luxury real estate world, it was a tragedy. It cost way more than $22 million to build. Some estimates suggest Blazevich poured north of $100 million into the construction. So why the "discount"?
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The truth is that the house is too specific. It’s a museum. Most people buying at that level want glass walls, infinity pools overlooking the Sunset Strip, and "smart home" tech that feels like a spaceship. They don't necessarily want a 17th-century Spanish estate with a 10th-century basement. It’s a niche product for a buyer who values history over hype.
The Logistics of Living 17 Stories Deep
Living in a house like this isn't normal. You don't just "vacuum" a 51,000-square-foot home.
The maintenance is a full-time job for a massive staff. The air filtration systems required to keep an underground ballroom from feeling like a basement are industrial grade. Then there’s the landscape. The estate sits on about eight acres. It has groves of olive trees—some of which are hundreds of years old—and rows of lavender and citrus. It feels like the hills of Andalusia, but you’re literally minutes away from a Starbucks in Torrance.
One thing people get wrong is the "secret" nature of it. It’s not a bunker. It’s not meant for the apocalypse, though it would probably work pretty well for that. It was designed for "serenity." That’s what de la paz means—of the peace.
The Architectural Significance Most People Miss
Rafael Manzano Martos didn't just throw together some arches. The house is a chronological journey. The upper levels represent more modern (well, 18th and 19th century) Spanish architecture. As you go deeper, you go further back in time.
The lower levels are a tribute to the Mudéjar style. This is the intersection of Islamic and Christian art that defined Spain for centuries. It’s why you see those horseshoe arches and the dizzying "horror vacui" style of decoration where every square inch is covered in pattern.
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You won't find drywall here. Everything is authentic. The stone was quarried in Spain. The wood was carved by artisans who specialize in historical restoration. It’s arguably the most authentic piece of European architecture on the West Coast.
What We Can Learn From the Hacienda
Is it a cautionary tale of over-building? Maybe. But it’s also a testament to what happens when someone refuses to compromise. In a world of "cookie-cutter" modern farmhouses and gray-on-gray interiors, Hacienda de la Paz is a loud, defiant shout.
It reminds us that "value" is subjective. To the market, the house was worth $22 million. To the man who spent 17 years building it, it was a masterpiece that couldn't be quantified.
If you’re ever driving through Palos Verdes, you won't see much. You’ll see a gate and some trees. But just remember that beneath your feet, there is a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and a 10th-century spa waiting in the dark.
Actionable Insights for Architecture Lovers
- Study the Mudéjar Style: If you like the look of the Hacienda, look up the works of Rafael Manzano Martos. It’s a world of architecture that most Americans never see.
- Understand Zoning: The Hacienda is a masterclass in working with restrictions. If you can't go up, go down. It’s a lesson for anyone dealing with difficult building codes.
- Appreciate Craftsmanship: Look closely at photos of the tile work. That isn't printed; it’s hand-set. It’s a dying art form that this house single-handedly kept alive for a few more decades.
- Market Realities: Let this be a lesson in "custom" builds. The more "you" a house is, the harder it is to sell. Personal luxury rarely equals market ROI.
The story of the Hacienda isn't over. Houses like this last for centuries. Long after the glass mansions of Bel Air have dated and been torn down, this stone fortress built into the side of a California hill will likely still be standing, confused and beautiful as ever.
To appreciate the scale, one must look at the mechanical systems involved. The HVAC alone is a marvel, designed to maintain precise humidity levels for the vast amounts of Moroccan wood and Spanish stone. Without this, the underground levels would deteriorate within years due to the coastal salt air and subterranean moisture. It’s a hidden engineering feat that costs tens of thousands of dollars a month just to keep running.
Ultimately, it stands as a monument to a specific kind of American dream—one where you don't just buy a home, you build a world. It’s impractical, expensive, and totally unnecessary. And honestly, that’s exactly why it matters.
Next Steps for Deep Research:
Check the historical archives of the Los Angeles Times for the 2018 auction results to see the full breakdown of the sale. You can also look up the Viva Food Group to understand the business empire that funded this 17-year construction project. For a better visual understanding, search for the architectural drawings of Rafael Manzano Martos specifically related to "Andalusian" influence in North America.