Bernard Maybeck Tour - Rose Walk Area, and Architecture 1900 to 1950s

This tour is a combination of renown Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck's Berkeley sub-division, called "Maybeck Country", and the examples of the development of the Bay Area regional and traditional styles of architecture. We'll see wonderful examples of the first (Brown Shingle) and second (Mid-Century Modern) Bay Area, endemic, traditional styles. And one or two of the third tradition as pictured above (photo from Henry St. in Berkeley). The architecture at Sea Ranch is also considered the third tradition of Bay Area architecture.

"BAY AREA TRADITIONAL" (1880-1980) Coined in 1947 by architecture critic Lewis Mumford, the Bay Area Tradition is a regional vernacular architecture endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area Tradition evolved over nearly 100 years and has since been categorized into First, Second, and Third traditions, spanning from the 1880s to the 1980s. We'll see the most authentic examples in Berkeley on this tour.

Additionally for a fascinating insight into the lives of the Maybecks click this link.
"Blooming in Winter", a biography of Jacomena Maybeck.
On the tour see the house that B.Maybeck built for Jacomena and Wallen Maybeck and now the author's home.
Meet at the intersection of Rose Walk and Euclid Ave. The parking enforcement signs I've seen on streets near Rose Walk indicate there is no time limit for parking here on the weekends. But be sure to check the signs where you park. If event is during the week we'll be sure to return to the cars within the parking time limits.

Here's a simple link that will allow you to support the Meetup and add a thank you.

The walk is about 2.0 miles and up some steep streets.
Information comes from the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association publications and web site. Also from the City of San Francisco Historical Preservation Bulletin. (source for photo above)

The Hillside Club founded in Berkeley in 1898 proposed building houses in the hills that fit into the natural landscape to preserve the beauty of the hills. Houses that nestled into the hillside, built with a redwood and having an unpainted look. Influenced by the Arts & Crafts back to nature movement popular at the time. Architects Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan and John Gaylord Howard built houses in keeping with these ideals, becoming the, "First Bay Tradition". We'll see many of these today. As well as other houses built from 1900 to the 50s.

Modernist architects were influential in the development of Greenwood Common and the modernist design of houses there, "Second Bay Tradition" also known as Mid-Century Modern. William Wurster, first Dean of UC School of Environmental Design, 1950-1963. He owned and developed Greenwood Common. Choosing to collaborate with other prominent, Mid-Century Modern Architects.

In the middle of the period, 1920s & 30 the storybook and particularly the highly embellished period revival styles gained great popularity. The stucco facades and red clay tile roofs provided fire resistance in the aftermath of the North Berkeley Hills fire of 1923. Popular were Spanish/Mediterranean Revival. We'll see examples of thls architecture in the aftermath of the fire as we finish the walk on Le Roy Ave., a street that was devastated in the 1923 fire.

Itinerary:

Rose Walk

Pete Seegar's family home

The Sack House

Check the restoration progress on 2733 Buena Vista. (It's finished.)

Walk to the top of Maybeck Twin Dr.

Temple of Wings (A home/dance school for modern dancers, the Boytons and Isadora Duncan)

Historic Maybeck family house (& the dueling historic markers!)

Greenwood Common (Modern Second Bay Traditional Regional style.)

For after the tour: the walk is near two of the nicest shopping and restaurant districts in the East Bay. Combined, having over a hundred places to eat and drink. As well as some of the most unique shops to be found in the Bay Area. Below are links to directories for these.
Shattuck Ave. from Rose St. to University Ave. aka "The Gourmet Ghetto".

https://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/eb/gourmetghetto/

Solano Ave. from San Pablo Ave. to the Alameda.

https://www.solanoavenueassn.org/solano-avenue-directory
Those taking advantage of public transportation, the meeting location is a great, no more than two mile uphill walk, from the downtown Berkeley BART station.( I suggest walk as diagonally as possible through the grid of streets. Leave extra time. A great alternative for those wishing a longer walk.)