To many of us who live in the Bay Area, the UC Berkeley campus is a valuable cultural and educational resource. It also is a showcase for many of the foremost architects of the early 20th Century. Classic Bay Area Architecture had its genesis here, and the campus still contains rare examples of Arts & Crafts, Victorian and Italianate styles.
The best way to explore the architecture of UC Berkeley is by foot. You can take a guided campus tour—or leave your car at the structure on Channing Street for a few hours and go for a stroll through the heart of campus. Here are just a few of the architectural treasures you’ll find:
Hearst Gymnasium (1927)
A collaboration between Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan, this Beaux-Arts complex combines influences from ancient Roman ruins with Baroque influences. Interior and exterior spaces are blended into a unified and romantic environment. The marble outdoor pools provide a surprisingly glamorous setting for student recreation.
Faculty Club (1902)
Located in a wooded glade, the Faculty Club is an Arts & Crafts masterpiece. Carved beams, wood paneling, arched windows, fireplaces, and stained glass, all exemplify the northern California aesthetic. The building materials, decks and oak trees capture the era’s regard for nature.
Sather Gate (1910)
This iconic gateway to campus at the edge of Sproul Plaza was designed by John Galen Howard in the French baroque style. It recently underwent a $1.5 million restoration project to rebuild structural elements and restore the bronze sculpture work. The work was complete last April, so check it out.
South Hall (1873)
The oldest building on campus, this masterpiece of Second Empire institutional architecture was designed by Scottish architect David Farquharson. The sole survivor of an original nucleus of Farquharson-designed buildings that comprised the original campus, South Hall features a mansard roof, unique earthquake-resistant brick-cell construction and decorative relief panels depicting California’s native fruits and grains (the building originally housed the College of Agriculture). A popular campus legend that this building was used in the movie Mary Poppins is sadly not true, but Bert and his chimney sweep compatriots would certainly have felt right at home here.
Thorsen House (1909)
Not actually part of the U.C. Campus, Thorsen House stands majestically on “fraternity row” along Piedmont Avenue. Designed by Craftsman-era architects Henry and Charles Green, this residence was designed for Randolph and Caroline Thorsen as an “ultimate bungalow.” Today, it is the Sigma Phi Chapter House and a true architectural treasure. Exquisite woodwork, stained glass and tiles are a tribute to the Arts & Crafts sensibility. The frat boys who live here are de facto historic conservationists and proud to show off the residence and talk about the ambitious restoration project underway. To arrange a tour, e-mail questions@thorsenhouse.org.
