Havens, Weston, House
historic place
Perched on Berkeley's Panoramic Hill, the Weston Havens House is a significant example of 20th-century California modernist architecture. Designed by architect Harwell Hamilton Harris, construction of the house began in 1940 for its owner, John Weston Havens Jr.. Havens was a descendant of Berkeley founder Francis Kittredge Shattuck. The house is notable for its unique structural system, featuring three inverted triangular trusses that support the roof, main floor, and lower floors. Built with unfinished redwood and large windows, the design aimed to integrate the beholder with the panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. The Weston Havens House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 11, 2008. Today, it is under the stewardship of the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design and serves as a residence for visiting professors and for educational projects. This historic place remains an important example of regional California Modernist style.