Join Docomomo-US Northern California for an exclusive tour celebrating one of California’s most iconic architectural treasures, the Weston Havens House. This home is not open to the public, a rare opportunity.
Event Details [Buy Tickets on Eventbrite]
Sunday, April 6, 2025
1 - 2:30 pm: House Tour Only led by expert docent
4:30 - 7:30 pm: Sunset Tour and Reception with expert insight into the house and its owner. - SOLD OUT
Designed in 1941 by Harwell Hamilton Harris for philanthropist John Weston Havens Jr., this masterpiece of California Modernism is perched on Panoramic Hill, offering breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. The house is renowned as Sky House for its innovative design, including inverted triangular trusses that create a floating effect and expansive glass walls that connect interior spaces with nature.
The Havens House embodies a bold vision of modern architecture, blending redwood and glass into a harmonious retreat reflecting its time's progressive spirit. It was once featured in House Beautiful as “one of the most perfect examples of contemporary American architecture.”
Why You Can’t Miss This Event
Architectural Significance: This modernist masterpiece ranks alongside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Richard Neutra’s Lovell Health House.
Unparalleled Views: Witness a stunning sunset over the San Francisco Bay from a vantage point offering bridge-to-bridge vistas.
Rare Access: This house is not open to the public; Docomomo is partnering with UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design to open this house to our constituents.
Expert Insights: During the sunset tour, gain a deeper understanding through special talks on the house, Weston Havens, and rarely seen archival material.
A Modernist Masterpiece in Need
The Weston Havens House, completed in 1941, is one of the most important examples of contemporary American architecture. Its innovative design features three inverted triangular trusses that create the illusion of the house floating above the hillside while expansive windows frame panoramic views from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate.
This architectural treasure desperately needs preservation funds. By attending this exclusive event, you’ll contribute directly to the maintenance and conservation of this unique home, ensuring its legacy for future generations. 100% of proceeds go to the Havens House.
Access to the Havens House requires stairs from the street to the lower levels. The bathrooms are not ADA-compliant.
___________________________________________
Discounted tickets for Docomomo US Members! You can check your membership status, become a Docomomo member, or renew your membership online here. Other membership benefits include free tickets to our Annual Tour Day event, other event discounts, and you are supporting our efforts to protect Modernist architecture and our National Symposium Travel Grant for students.
Image Credit: University of California, Berkeley, Environmental Design Archives.