An Alluring Berkeley Hills Home by a Case Study Architect Asks $2.9M

Rebuilt by architect Beverly David Thorne after a 1991 fire, this newly renovated post-and-beam residence takes advantage of its hilltop site.

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Kathryn M.

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Bay Area architect Beverly David Thorne was known as "the man of steel" for his prolific use of the material in designs such as the Oakland home of jazz musician Dave Brubeck (1954) and Case Study House #26 (1963). While both structures made Thorne famous, he preferred more discreet projects—which is perhaps what attracted him to this secluded site in Berkeley, California. Inspired by the hilltop perch, Thorne designed a comparatively modest post-and-beam structure that is now up for sale after a recent restoration.

Originally completed in 1964, this steel-reinforced, post-and-beam design by Beverly "David" Thorne was rebuilt after the devastating Oakland firestorm of 1991, which left only the central concrete chimney standing. The structure is located on private, one-and-a-half-acre lot in the Claremont Hills neighborhood, near the border of Berkeley and Oakland, California.

The home was recently modernized while retaining original design elements including the fireplace, clerestory windows, and extensive woodwork. Picture windows in the main living area provide views over Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay.

The home’s original owners collaborated with Thorne on the design, reportedly beginning the process in 1955 but not completing construction until 1964. When a devastating fire destroyed the home some thirty years later in 1991, the couple once again hired Thorne to rebuild the exact home. While the use of steel is less evident in the reconstructed version, the wood-clad structure relies on a steel-reinforced frame.

Another view of the living area shows the concrete fireplace, which is original to the 1964 home.

Throughout the interior, wood-paneled walls, hardwood floors,  and tongue-and-groove ceilings complement the post-and-beam design. — Throughout the interior, wood-paneled walls, hardwood floors, and tongue-and-groove ceilings complement the post-and-beam design.

A dining area sits at the opposite end of the living room. Doors on both sides of the space provide access to a wrap-around deck and terrace.

Offering three bedrooms, along with two full and two half bathrooms, the 2,772-square-foot home is spread out across three levels. The main floor features all living spaces while the upstairs contains a couple of the bedrooms and a study. The lower level features a family room, along with the last bedroom and a large wine cellar. Outside, lush landscaping makes the most of the secluded hilltop lot, which is surrounded by trees and nearly invisible from the street below. Keep scrolling to see more of the property, currently listed for $2,995,000.