Berkeley: Homes With Good Bones Testify To Architects’ Skills
A few new Berkeley listings caught my eye this weekend. The first, 148 Stonewall Road, a level-in 2-bedroom house in the hills above the Claremont Hotel (pictured above), is going for a rather astonishing $857 per square foot ($1,100,000). I decided to hike up there to see whether it could justify that price tag.
The truth is that I think it just about can. Even though this is only a 1,283 square foot home, it offers something many larger homes do not: namely a good vibe. It was designed in 1962 by architect Reece Clark and, although there has been minimal updating, the architecture, with its liberal use of wood paneling and plate glass, has stood the test of time. There are sweeping views of the Bay from a vertiginous deck, soft breezes keep the open-plan living area cool on sweltering days, there’s a new expensive bridge driveway and some charming landscaping on the front decks that lead to the entrance. A bonus is that, if you don’t mind a bit of a climb on the way home, you can walk the 0.4 miles to the local Peet’s for a morning coffee.
Another architect-designed home is up for sale across town at 959 Miller Avenue. David Stark Wilson‘s work is highly regarded in the Bay Area, not least because of the quality of the homes he designed in the Oakland hills after the 1991 firestorm. A home he built last year (above left) won acclaim for its striking modern lines and use of sustainable, fire-resistant materials and was included in Metropolitan Home’s Design 100 list this year.
959 Miller, a 4/3.5, 3,106 sq ft home (above right), was built in 1990, and leans more towards traditional Mediterranean with some contemporary aspects. It has three floors of living space, an indoor/outdoor flow, views, and a level entry from the driveway. Price: $1,695,000 ($546/sq ft).
The 2-bedroom home at 1228 Monterey Avenue is worth investigating because, although it needs some work, the neighborhood is desirable –near BART too — and the price is a reasonable $685,000.
Lastly, 6450 Mystic Street: this 2/2 Craftsman on the Berkeley/Oakland border, near Chabot Elementary School and College Avenue, has some good things going for it, including a huge bay window in the living room on the front, a peaceful location at the end of a cul-de-sac, and a bonus third bedroom and bathroom created by converting a garage. Price: $875,000 ($646/sq ft).
[Photo credit David Stark Wilson home, left: David Stark Wilson.]
