The John S. Thomas House: A Berkeley brown shingle rooted in local architectural history
Built in 1914 by UC Berkeley professor of architecture William Charles Hays, 2753 Buena Vista Way was designed as a shingle palazzo situated in the North Berkeley Hills alongside many homes from the leading leading architects of the early and mid 20th century. Its original character has been preserved over the last century by a series of renowned local architects: Having survived the 1923 Berkeley hills fire, it was later remodeled in an award-winning restoration done in 1984 by William Turnbull Jr., an architect of the beloved Sea Ranch community further up the coast. It was during this renovation that the galley kitchen’s windows and dutch doors were installed to facilitate the indoor-outdoor living that the Bay Area is known for. French doors to the backyard were also added to the living room, making the space feel even larger still.
The arched breezeway and adjacent addition was designed by UC Berkeley architecture student David Trachtenberg in 2004, expanding the living space to include a large primary suite and lower-level guest suite. All of these updates to the home were intentionally designed to appear as if they had always been there, in keeping with Berkeley’s coveted architectural traditions.
Today at 2753 Buena Vista Way:
As showcased in Sunset Magazine, this stately four bedroom, three and a half-bathroom redwood shingle architectural classic features epic views of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges and the San Francisco skyline.
With UC, shops, and restaurants moments away, 2753 Buena Vista Way marries urban amenities with the peaceful calm of the Berkeley Hills. Step through the leaded glass front door into the beautifully proportioned, old-world beauty of this 2,654 SQFT home with original redwood intact. High coved and beamed ceilings and windows galore keep it sunny and bright, and in this coveted pocket of Berkeley there are no power lines to interfere with the stunning views from nearly each and every room. The vast living room has a fireplace, casement windows with sweeping views, and French doors to the spacious stone patio, beautiful private in-law suite, and rear garden.
The dining room has more views, built-in redwood cabinets, and easy flow to a bar room, large kitchen with office/homework nook, and convenient powder room. Dutch doors at both ends of the kitchen enable perfect indoor/outdoor living. The romantic, meandering rear garden, winding decks, and terraced plantings and oaks are a veritable urban paradise.
Upstairs are three bedrooms including the huge primary suite, multiple baths, built-in bookcases, and a wide covered loggia with panoramic Bay and bridge views. This loggia (or summer sleeping porch) was a favorite feature of Hays’ in his residential designs. Downstairs, the basement houses the laundry and 300 SQFT of usable bonus space with full ceiling height and French doors leading out to the garden. From the wrap-around rear patio, access the guest suite. This lovely, private space with separate entrance includes a full bath and closet space, ideal for an au-pair, guests or a gorgeous home office.
The coveted North Berkeley location is moments to Tilden Park, UC Berkeley, the Rose Garden and Codornices Park, as well as shops and some of the best restaurants in the area in Gourmet Ghetto and on Shattuck Ave. This is a timeless gem in the heart of Berkeley!
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