Several Berkeley residents have demonstrated their commitment to architectural preservation again this year by putting enormous time, effort and money into restoring some of the city’s most interesting homes.
The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) has just announced the winners of its annual Preservation Awards. Included in the prize list is Ballantine House (above) at 1512 La Loma Avenue.
This beautiful cottage was designed by John Ballantine in 1924 as his family’s home. Having lost a home in the Berkeley fire of 1923, Ballantine, who worked in the office of noted architect Henry Gutterson, made sure to choose fire-resistant materials — including a slate roof and concrete blocks that imitated stone — when building the house.
However, the home was not designed with earthquakes in mind, an issue that has now been thoughtfully addressed by its current owners who have overseen a skillful reconstruction of walls, beams and fireplace — even built-in cabinets — to ensure an invisible upgrade to 21st century standards.
For full details of all this year’s preservation winners, visit the BAHA website.
[Photo credit: Daniella Thompson, 2009, BAHA.]