Berkeley City Club

An historic hotel in downtown Berkeley, the Berkeley City Club is an architectural gem constructed in 1927 and designed by California architect Julia Morgan.

In 1890, young girls typically married after high school. Not Julia Morgan. She attended UC Berkeley, which had just begun enrolling women, studied Civil Engineering under the tutelage of architect Bernard Maybeck and was the only woman in the graduating class of 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering. She was also the first woman to enroll in Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1898, where she received her Master's degree in architecture in 1901. Julia, you do us proud.

www.berkeleycityclub.com

On this courtyard, surrounded by the Club on four sides and open to the darkening sky, this fountain nymph which resembled a small laughing boy was transformed under my hand into an approximation of Mark Twain in a loincloth.

Berkeley City Club

 

Loved sketching at Julia Morgan designed Berkeley City Club. Thanks manager Michaela Winn for making it happen.

Like heaven on earth

Architectural heaven, that is. The sketchers and I spent a wonderful evening at the Julia Morgan-designed Berkeley City Club yesterday (March 13).

The staircase at the Berkeley City Club

I tried a wide view of the main entrance of the Berkeley City Club. The building is an eclectic mix of styles and materials, they all work together very well. Nothing was left without a decoration.

Berkeley City Club, 24x9in.

The Berkeley City Club

from their website:  "THE BERKELEY CITY CLUB IS A HISTORIC HOTEL, private social club, and event venue. It has been accepted into the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America. In 1927, a small group of women felt the need for a center around women’s activities and had cherished the plan of bringing this into being in Berkeley. These women hired Julia Morgan to design and supervise the construction of the Club, also known as the 'Little Castle' since Miss Morgan was also building the Hearst Castle and many of the buildings features remind visitors of the Hearst Castle.

Upon opening in November 1930, it was the Berkeley Women’s City Club, which became a center for social, cultural, recreational, and family activities in the East Bay. At the height of its legacy as a social club, there were 4,000 female members. In 1965, the club opened its door to both men and women. The membership legacy continues to thrive as a hub for social, business, and cultural interactions."

The foyer and reception desk

Olympic-size pool