Andrew Pitarre Presents

Magical Maybeck Retreat

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1770 Highland Place, Berkeley

All Property Photos

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Property Details

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beds

2

baths

1

interior

1,482 sq ft

A Masterpiece of Arts & Crafts Architecture at 1770 Highland Place

Step into a living piece of Berkeley’s architectural legacy at 1770 Highland Place, a residence that embodies the visionary genius of Bernard Maybeck and the poetic spirit of its original owner, Charles Keeler. Designed in 1895, this home stands as one of Maybeck’s earliest and most significant residential works—a prototype of the emerging Arts & Crafts movement that would come to define the architecture known as the First Bay Tradition. With its abundance of windows, elegant proportions, and natural materials, the house reflects a bold yet harmonious departure from Victorian excess, marking a turning point in American residential design.

Charles Keeler, poet, naturalist, and author of The Simple Home, commissioned this residence as more than just a house—it was a manifesto. In that influential book, Keeler outlined a philosophy of architecture rooted in simplicity, harmony with nature, and handcrafted beauty, ideals that Maybeck translated into wood, glass and elegant spaces. Surrounded by graceful Japanese maple trees and offering a peekaboo view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the home remains a physical expression of Keeler’s vision: an integration of art, nature and everyday living.

Every room at 1770 Highland Place resonates with character and intention. Light pours through numerous windows set between the redwood posts creating a constantly shifting interplay of shadow and sun across handcrafted interiors. Built-in furnishings, rich wood detailing, and carefully framed sightlines evoke a sense of permanence and place, while subtle asymmetries and natural finishes reflect the influence of Japanese design—a hallmark of Maybeck’s evolving style.

Owning this home means becoming part of a story—one that shaped the architectural soul of Berkeley and continues to inspire lovers of art, history, and design. Rarely does such a pedigreed property come to market, and rarer still one so beautifully preserved. 1770 Highland Place is an opportunity to live not only in a landmark but in a living philosophy of beauty, harmony, and creative life.

about this

Neighborhood

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Home to one of the most prestigious universities in the country, Berkeley offers the intellectual and cultural stimulation from its campus -- which is within walking distance of downtown. Many Berkeley neighborhoods were established in the 1920s, with quiet, tree-lined streets, brown-shingled homes, and lushly landscaped yards.

In Thousand Oaks, the original developers preserved ancient oak trees and left rock outcroppings intact. Elmwood, with its thriving business district, remains one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods.

In Claremont, the Claremont Hotel, a gleaming white Victorian-era landmark, has provided generations of Bay Area residents with a luxurious getaway.Berkeley has long been at the forefront of culinary innovation. Locals flock to the original Peet’s Coffee & Tea location.

For residents who like to savor their meals at home, small retail districts sprinkled throughout Berkeley allow them to shop like Europeans, going from store to store to purchase everything they need. Those in a hurry can always visit major grocery stores nearby.

Neighborhood green spaces abound throughout Berkeley, from small community gardens to the Berkeley Rose Garden -- which boasts more than 3,000 rose bushes. The gem of the area is 2,000-acre Tilden Regional Park, with its miles of biking and hiking trails and the naturally landscaped swimming hole at Lake Anza.