Julia Morgan Architectural Tour of Elmwood Park & Claremont Ct, Berkeley

Join us for a fascinating Julia Morgan Architectural Tour of Elmwood Park and Claremont Court in Berkeley, Calif.! Meet us outside the Julia Morgan Theater at 2640 College Ave., at the intersection with Derby Ave. Convenient parking is available nearby. Explore the stunning architecture and rich history of these iconic houses with a knowledgeable guide. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to delve into the world of Julia Morgan's timeless designs! We'll discover almost twenty houses, ensembles (two houses sharing one large lot) and a former church showing her signature work. (Near the end of the tour we'll spend a half hour examining what I call the Pacific Hts of Berkeley, along Avalon Ave. and around Monkey Island Park. A most spectacular cluster of homes.)

As California's first registered woman architect, she is a truly renown figure. Morgan graduated UC in 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering, one of her specializations was structural engineering. (This benefited her clients greatly, as was seen after the 06' earthquake by her still standing buildings.)
She arrived in Paris in 1896. A few years later it was reported in the San Francisco Call: Paris, Oct.30,1902 - Julia Morgan of San Francisco passed the examination with honors at the Architectural section of the School of Fine Arts (Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris France). The first woman to do so.

By the end of her 45 yr. career she had received well over 700 commissions. It was said, "Her rational approach to home design and the public success of her large commissions gave Julia Morgan a solid reputation. It also won her the confidence of her clients. With the hard work, genius, inspiration and true artistic perception to create memorable works.
We'll concentrate on the many Julia Morgan designed houses, churches and buildings in the Claremont Ct. and Elmwood neighborhoods. Unique here are the Julia Morgan ensemble houses, where she creatively placed two houses on one large lot. Possibly to obtain more value for her clients. We'll see several of these ensembles. In fact when JM bought her own house at Washington & Divisadero in SF she bought a pair of houses there.

To read more about the many Julia Morgan public buildings, such as the Hearst Castle etc. go to wikipedia. She was one of the country's most prolific architects. The first woman to receive the American Institute of Architects highest award, the AIA Gold Medal, awarded posthumously in 2014.

Look for parking on the smaller side streets. Option for lunch afterward. Old standby is Taqueria Talavera on Solano Ave. & Peralta Ave, (1561 Solano Ave.) Authentic, always fresh food, and a delightful, sunny option, to eat at the outdoor tables.

Julia Morgan as a child in Oakland.

Host or Publisher Jordan M Herrmann