Period Piece

Posted on April 8, 2009 
Filed Under Art, Berkeley, Design

Despite being a relatively young American city that has sustained its fair share of debilitating fires and earthquakes, San Francisco and its surrounds boast a rich architectural pedigree. Of course, the city’s reputation as the heart of Victorian charm is well-documented. Think the always camera-ready Painted Ladies in Alamo Square or the stately mansions of Pacific Heights.

berkeleycityclub_lionbearThe Bay has also played host to a bevy of design heavyweights whose talents are perhaps even more pronounced today. There’s the craftsman-style Berkeley residences of Bernard Maybeck and the mid-century masterpieces of Joseph Eichler in Diamond Heights. World-class museum projects have ensured that the buildings themselves will be as celebrated as their prized art collections— notably, Mario Botta for the clearly Memphis-inspired SFMOMA and Herzog & de Meuron for the copper-encased deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park.

Standing as a testament not only to the beauty but endurance of California design is the Berkeley City Club by Julia Morgan. Nestled at the base of the University of California’s Berkeley campus, the club originally served as the epicenter for women’s social gatherings. Today, in its current function as a fitness center, reception venue and hotel, club membership is open to both women and men.

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The building itself, completed in 1929, maintains much of its original Gothic Revival design attributes. Present are the trefoil portholes, structural vaulting and heavy stone (concrete was used here as an economical substitute) that recall the grand cathedrals of medieval Europe. Though perhaps best known for a little castle called Hearst, Julia Morgan’s torch may burn no brighter than it does in Berkeley.

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The Berkeley City Club is located at 2315 Durant Avenue. Membership and hotel room stay information are available at their official website.

—Michael

Special thanks to Carol Oliveto, for use of her photo (last shot shown here).

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