Berkeley & Oakland: Walter Ratcliff Homes on the Move

There are a number of architects who are indelibly associated with Berkeley—Julia Morgan, John Hudson Thomas, Leola Hall, and Bernard Maybeck spring to mind.

But no one else defined the look of Berkeley as much as Walter Ratcliff, who was named the city’s architect in 1913. Born in England, he moved to Berkeley as a teenager, and his houses, commercial buildings and schools are much loved East Bay landmarks. My bank was designed by Ratcliff and I always appreciate its grace and pleasing proportions when I nip in to cash a check. His style was a blend of Arts and Crafts and historical eclectic with an emphasis on vernacular traditions and indoor-outdoor living.

As a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle on the architect put it:

A Ratcliff building has a wholeness to it that transcends its components. Beautifully proportioned and nicely detailed, his buildings are sometimes stately but never imposing — not even his banks. There is a repose about them that homeowners love and visitors feel, and a joyfulness as well.

A Ratcliff home went on the market a couple of weeks ago and is already pending.

A 1954 modernist home at 12391 Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, designed by Ratcliff & Ratcliff, the firm he was involved in with his son, is still for sale (image below). Its price has been reduced to $1,350,000.