Presenting the Hume Cloister, Berkeley, California

T he Hume Cloister

2900 Buena Vista Way, Berkeley, California

Bebe McRae

510.652.2133/415 | bmcrae@grubbco.com BebeMcRae.com | GRUBBCO.COM CalBRE Lic. #00875159

T he Hume Cloister Built 1928 - 1929 Architect: John Hudson T homas 2900 Buena Vista Way Berkeley, California

Samuel Hume was educated at Harvard and earned a degree in theater.

He created the first exhibition of stagecraft in the United States. By 1918, Samuel had returned to Berkeley as an assistant professor at the University of California, eventually becoming the head of the Greek Theater Department there. His wife, Portia Bell Hume, was a pioneer in the field of Psychiatry and lent her name to the modern Portia Bell Hume Behavioral Health and Training Center.

In 1927 the Humes engaged architect John Hudson Thomas to build a replica of a 13th-century French Monastery. This became their home, known alternately as Hume Cloister or Hume Castle and has been listed as a historic landmark of Berkeley since 1985.

T he Hume Cloister T he Site

The residence and grounds are sited on expansive landscaped terraces in the Berkeley Hills with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay area; a sweeping view of five coun­ties. The grounds are all gated and fenced and include a bocce ball court, koi pond, planting beds and hot tub. The low maintenance landscaping was designed in 1980 using mostly indigenous plant material.

T he House

Known as the Hume Cloister, this magnificent residence was built in 1928-1929 in the style of a thirteenth century medieval cloister. All of its spacious rooms are arranged around a private garden patterned after the cloister at Toulouse, France. The entrance to this magnificent residence is of medieval design featuring a crouching lion and a pair of finely detailed im­ported Florentine lamps. This home can best be described as being in the transitional style between Romanesque and early Gothic. Noted architect, John Hudson Thomas, incorporated a stately living room, 27ft x 30ft and over 20ft high featuring a very grand fireplace with a 4ft x 6ft open­ing, and a stone staircase leading up to a mezzanine library with capacity for 2,000 books and office space with commanding views of San Francisco. Just off the living room, there is a baronial dining room, featuring a handsome fireplace mantel with a frieze of cast concrete figures.

A stunning chandelier of handcrafted cast iron enhances the romance of the setting.

T he Kitchen

The countertops and floor are made of beautiful and durable Terrazzo and allows the countertops to drain toward the three sinks. The roll-up cabinet doors offer the convenience of an open shelf system - no doors to bump into but still with the capability of clos­ing doors when desired. Appliances include a Wolf Range, 8 cu. ft. ‘Sub Zero’ refrigerator, and a ‘Thermotronic’ oven built into the wall with a combination microwave oven, and broiler. The kit­chen has views of the south bay and opens out to the cloister. The kitchen is highlighted by a sky­light and automatically-timed ad­justable louvers.

T he Bedrooms

Each of the five spacious bedrooms have their own en suite full bathroom. The master bedroom and bathroom open out to the magnificent Redwood deck with hot tub and Koi pond. The twilight view of San Francisco and the Bay on a clear night from this deck is particularly breathtaking.

Solar Hot Water and Solar Heating

The masonry construction of the home made it logical to retrofit with a solar heating system. Solar energy is captured by means of a solar greenhouse con­structed over the kitchen. To retain heat as long as possible and to reduce heating costs, the home has been in­sulated with 14 inches of fiberglass in the exterior walls providing an energy efficient home with reduced heating costs.

Guest Quarters

Tucked away behind the residence are guest quarters with an open plan living/dining room, kitchenette, one bedroom, and two bath­s.

Parking

There is parking for twelve cars with a three-car garage.

A true masterpiece and a icon in Berkeley history capturing the imagination.

Offered at $5,000,000 Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.