THE area to the south of Los Angeles has seen a good deal of exceptional - and often affordable - housing developments which have become particular favourites or Europeans.

Taylor Woodrow is a developer of fine homes throughout the southland, with new communities in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Each community created offers both innovative and award-winning designs in extraordinary surroundings. For example, Cypress at Pacific Ridge, situated behind private gates, offers residents a 10-acre public park which is planned to include ball fields and associated facilities, a private recreation centre including a junior Olympic pool, spa, wading pool, outdoor fireplaces with tables, barbecue area and access to a network of hiking and biking trails.

Cypress is one of the last of the new homes available on Newport Coast.

An intimate enclave planned for an initial 33 residences located within master-planned Pacific Ridge in California's prestigious Newport Coast is now extending an additional offering of 21 homes.

Four one and two-storey designs range from approximately 3,337 to 4,010sq ft, include up to five bedrooms and are architecturally inspired by a rich blend of rustic Tuscan and Tuscan farmhouse styling.

Mingling this exterior beauty with unsurpassed privacy, each Cypress residence extends generous indoor living space outdoors, where forecourts, side courtyards, rear courtyards or loggias allow you to take full advantage of this incomparable setting.

For more information or to request a brochure, email nacorporate@us.taylorwoodrow.com