Thorsen House
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| William R. Thorsen House | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
  "Last of the Ultimate Bungalows
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| Location: | 2307 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley, California |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1908 |
| Architect: | Greene & Greene |
| Architectural style(s): | Ultimate bungalow, Arts and Crafts Style |
| Added to NRHP: | November 20, 1978[1] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 78000647 |
| Governing body: | Local |
The William R. Thorsen House, often referred to as the Thorsen House, was built in 1908 by William Randolph and Caroline Canfield Thorsen. Designed by Henry and Charles Greene, of the renowned Pasadena firm of Greene & Greene. The House is considered as the last of four ultimate bungalows and is the only one located in Northern California.
William Thorsen was a lumber baron from Michigan who retired to California and purchased a lot in Berkeley. His wife, Caroline, is the sister of Nellie Canfield Blacker of the Robert R. Blacker House. She was inspired by the Greene brothers' work and also wanted a wooden house like her sister's as she was the wife and daughter of men in the lumber business.
The entry hall is paneled in teak while the living and dining rooms are paneled in Honduras Mahogany with ebony pegs covering the screws. The fireplace in the living room is surrounded with mauve Greuby tiles. The front door contains leaded art glass in the pattern of a gnarled grape vine, executed by Emil Lange. The Greenes were commissioned to make furniture originally only for the dining room, but they were later called back to make more pieces.
The house is currently owned by the Sigma Phi Society and is undergoing an extensive $10 million restoration and seismic upgrade.
[edit] Notes
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2008-06-14).
[edit] External Links
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