house tours bay area

Weekend sellouts expected. Advanced reservations required, including member admission.

Inspiration in Every Season

Connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories.

May 31, 2024 | 5:30-8pm

Queens and Kings descend upon the Dynasty home for a night of glam. Filoli will sparkle with drag performers and a DJ on the Garden stage, an art show in the Ballroom, and a Dynasty look-a-like competition. Dress-up or come as you are to join this camp night at Filoli.

Explore a Vibrant Landscape

of the Bay Area

The Experience

What's blooming.

Welcome to Filoli

Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories, and we invite you to learn more about our story here!

Life of a Bulb

Every spring, Filoli plants thousands of bulbs around the House and Garden. Follow along their journey and watch their transformation from bulb to flower.

Support the Preservation and Conservation of Filoli

2023 AIASF Home Tours

AIA San Francisco in collaboration with the Center for Architecture + Design is  pleased to announce the  2023 AIASF Home Tours  (formerly San Francisco Living: Home Tours), an annual open house event featuring five residences designed by leading Bay Area architects will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

As the first tour series in the Bay Area to promote residential design from the architect’s point of view, this highly-acclaimed event showcases five projects that promote innovative residential and represent a variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods, and residences, including single-family homes, multi-family complexes, and contemporary renovations. AIASF Home Tours takes place every year in September as part of the annual  Architecture + the City Festival .

Tour participants view some of the latest residential projects from the inside out, examine new housing trends, and discover design solutions that inspire unique modern and sustainable living. This year’s Home Tours Headquarters will take place at the new Center for Architecture + Design located at 140 Sutter Street in San Francisco.

Additionally, festival attendees will be able to attend the Architects Forum on Wednesday, September 20, featuring a panel discussion with the architects whose projects are featured in this year’s AIASF Home Tours. Note: Architects Forum is free to Home Tours ticket holders; RSVP required for ticket holders upon purchase. 

AIASF Home Tours tickets are now available for online purchase through Saturday, September 23!

AIA Member: $85; AIA Students: $60

General (Non-Member): $95; Student (Non-Member): $65 

2023 AIASF Home Tours Sponsors

NEIGHBOR LEVEL

Photo Credit: Bruce Damonte

Photo Credit: Paul Dyer

Photo Credit: Adam Rouse Photography

About the Home

The pr oject started as a re-design of an old, shingled Victorian house, but the scope changed drastically when a fire ravaged the home on Christmas 2017. The single-story house was previously overshadowed by its taller two-story gabl ed neighbors. As the fire forced a reevaluation of scope and scale, Mork-Ulnes evaluated the proportions and exterior massing of neighboring homes. For the exterior, the charred black painted silhouette was intended to take cues from its quintessential San Francisco neighbors. The proportions, scale, and massing are derived from its surroundings, but reinterpret Edwardian design cues into more abstract decorative elements like siding patterns and solid-void composition.

Architect:  Mork-Ulnes Architects

Project Design Team: Casper Mork-Ulnes, Lexie Mork-Ulnes,Greg Ladigin, Phi van Phan; Interiors by Alison Damonte

Neighborhood: Bernal Heights

Site Area: 1,634 Sq. Ft.

Floor Area: 2,818 Sq. Ft.

Completion Year: 2022

Photographer: Bruce Damonte

Golden Gate Heights Residence

Bernal Heights Residence

Reflecting the West Coast’s bohemian roots, this remodel combines Eastern European modernism with a wabi-sabi flair. Pe rched atop Golden Gate Heights with views of the Marin Headlands, this mid-century residence didn't do justice to its spectacular setting. A compartmentalized floor plan, with deteriorated fixtures and finishes, made for a dated feel. It was time for a major reset. The house was reconceptualized, inside and out. The goal was to elevate its roots and create a space that would accommodate large gatherings while keeping an intimate, personal feel for everyday living.  P assing through that gate is otherworldly, transforming the outside world into a surreal experience that recalls the Light and Space Movement of 1970’s California. Guests are ushered to a staircase that leads to a Zendo-inspired garden and front door.

Architect:  John Lum Architecture

Project Design Team: John Lum, Mana Behdad

Neighborhood: Golden Gate Heights

Site Area: 63,655 Sq. Ft.

Floor Area: 2,951 Sq. Ft.

Completion Year: 2018

Photographer: Paul Dyer

Russian Hill Residence

Located at the end of a narrow mid-block alley in the pedestrian-oriented and densely rich context of San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, this project involved a reimagination and expansion of an existing two-unit home while merging the subject property with a small adjacent vacant lot bordering the shared mid-block open space. The design maintains the small existing building footprint, focusing on preserving the adjacent open space while expanding the living space by converting a storage area at the garden level and up through a single-story vertical addition. The bold, faceted, object-like red stair provides a glimpse into the nature of the house from the alley level and connects all 4 floors vertically. A quiet, modern façade becomes the reimagined face fronting the narrow alley and frames the pedestrian view to Coit Tower. ​

Architect: Dumican Mosey Architects

Project Design Team: Eric Dumican, Russell Frank,  Matthew Mochizuki

Neighborhood: Russian Hill

Site Area: 2,164 Sq. Ft.

Floor Area: 3,300 Sq. Ft.

Completion Year:  2022

Photographer: Blake Marvin Photography

Mint Hill Residence

The home was built for another site and another time. Moved from Bernal Heights to Waller Street, adjacent apartments blocked light into the windows built for another place. On an early trip to the home the architect saw that the bathroom lightwell had the best light and became the stair location bringing sunshine through the core of the house. The team added a story and a housing unit to the property with a garden apartment and two-story home above. The client’s strong eclectic design and environmental sensibility inspired the integration of a Whole House  fan, radiant heat, no AC, PV with battery backup throughout the entire house. The home is almost entirely electric, except for the hot water heater, as Heat Pump Water Heaters were not as prevalent or affordable at the time of the design and build phase of this house. Gas is routed to the water heater and the homeowner’s goal is to replace this with an electric water heater when the time for replacement comes.

Architect: Red Dot Studio

Project Design Team: Project Principal: Karen Curtiss Project Architect: Barbora Bei Design Team: Camille Peignet, Mark Myers, Henry Gao

Neighborhood: Mint Hill

Site Area: 3,000 Sq. Ft.

Floor Area: 3,558 Sq. Ft.

Completion Year:  2022

Photographer: Leslie Williamson

Twin Peaks Residence

On a downslope lot in San Francisco, a restrained composition of steel frames, aluminum windows, and deep gray cement plaster makes up the facade of this three-unit residential building. On the lower level, a two-story unit makes the most of its connection to the outdoors, opening to a spare garden finished with fine gravel and concrete, onto which dappled light spills through the canopy of a new tree. A double-height volume holds the living room and kitchen, while the bedroom tucks into a mezzanine for a private, cozy retreat. Strategically placed vertical windows provide privacy for the building’s one-story middle unit, the space slowly decompressing to culminate in a high-ceilinged living room that leads onto a generous deck with sweeping views of San Francisco. The distance from the street on the building’s highest level allowed the architects to give the owners’ suite, located on the top unit’s second floor, an entirely glazed front facade, producing a space with visual connections to its surroundings in both the front and the back.

Architect: Michael Hennessey Architecture

Completion Year: 2021

Photographer: Adam Rouse Photography

Alameda Legacy Home Tour

Join us for our 51st Legacy Home Tour! Visit historic homes, discover important landmarks and learn how the West End put Alameda “on the map”.

Save the date! Sunday September 15 from 10am to 4pm. The tour starts at Longfellow Park where you’ll pick up your guidebooks, meet with local vendors, sit at the cafe and browse the store.

Tickets go on sale July 4th!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The tour is hosted by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS )  a nonprofit organization.

The funds raised by the  Alameda Legacy Home Tour benefit the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS).

CELEBRATE ALAMEDA’S GLORIOUS HISTORIC HOMES.

Alameda is blessed with over 4000 buildings on the Historic Study list, including many architectural styles. Our organization helps homeowners and business people appreciate the historic nature of their properties and learn restoration techniques that will bring buildings back to their original splendor.

HOME TOURS CELEBRATE PRESERVATION EFFORTS

We have hosted Legacy Home Tours since the 1973. The annual tour of historic homes is the main fund raising effort supporting the programs of AAPS.

Alameda, with its beautiful architecture and tree-lined streets is truly one of the best places to live in the Bay Area. Visit, take the tour, and find out for yourself.

Volunteer to help for our 2023 Legacy Home Tour!

Please email Denise if you would like to join us! .  We meet most months on the first Wednesday of the month. We are a fun group — join us! 

Contact Denise: [email protected]

Friends of the Tour

Please visit our advertisers and sponsors:.

WELCOME TO THE HAAS-LILIENTHAL HOUSE

 A NATIONAL TREASU RE

D esigned by architect Peter R. Schmidt for William and Bertha Haas, and constructed in 1886, the 11,500 square foot  Haas-Lilienthal House embodies both the ambitious spirit of San Francisco’s pioneers and its grand Victorian-period architecture.   

Surviving the 1906 earthquake and fire, it remained in the family until 1973, when the three adult children of the recently deceased Alice Haas-Lilienthal entrusted the House to a new architectural preservation organization, The Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage (now SF Heritage ).

After some preparation, the H-L House eventually became their new headquarters, and they quickly converted it into offices, a house museum featuring docent-led public tours, as well as a sophisticated venue for private events . SF Heritage also developed a highly successful educational program designed for third graders to learn more about architecture, preservation and 19th century living.

Today, this exuberant Queen Anne style home survives as a site of national cultural and architectural significance.  In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places and San Francisco Landmark #69, the House was designated a National Treasure in 2012 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

American Institute of Architects San Francisco

AIA San Francisco Announces Selected Projects for the 2023 AIASF Home Tours

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2023

Media Contact: Matthew Donohue, AIASF Communications Manager [email protected]

(San Francisco, CA) AIA San Francisco (AIASF), in collaboration with the  Center for Architecture + Design , is pleased to announce the 2023 AIASF Home Tours (formerly San Francisco Living: Home Tours) , an annual open house event featuring five residences designed by leading Bay Area architects will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. AIASF Home Tours tickets will be available for purchase on Friday, August 4.

"The AIASF Home Tours program provides a unique opportunity to engage and learn more about the impact of architecture and design in our everyday lives. We encourage curious minds to experience design and its evolving role in the future of the built environment," said Stacy Williams, AIASF Executive Director.

As the first tour series in the Bay Area to promote residential design, this highly-acclaimed event showcases five projects that promote innovative residential and represent a variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods, and residences, including single-family homes, multi-family complexes, and contemporary renovations. AIASF Home Tours takes place every year in September as part of the annual Architecture + the City Festival .

Tour participants view some of the latest residential projects from the inside out, examine new housing trends, and discover design solutions that inspire unique modern and sustainable living. This year’s Home Tours Headquarters will take place at the new Center for Architecture + Design located at 140 Sutter Street in San Francisco. Additionally, festival attendees will be able to attend the Architects’ Forum on Wednesday, September 20, featuring a panel discussion with the architects whose projects are featured in this year’s AIASF Home Tours.

Special thanks to the 2023 AIASF Home Tours Selection Team: Barbara Shands , Shands Studio ; Lise de Vito , Zack | de Vito Architecture ; Christina Cho Yoo , AIA, PE, LEED AP BD C , Atelier Cho Thompson & A Rising Tide ; Vivian Dwyer , Dwyer Design .

Congratulations to the architects and their teams!

2023 Architecture + the City Festival Sponsors

NEIGHBOR LEVEL

BLOCK LEVEL

33SIXTY | FLEXFORM

Bernal Heights Residence | Mork-Ulnes Architects |    https://www.morkulnes.com

The project started as a re-design of an old, shingled Victorian house, but the scope changed drastically when a fire ravaged the home on Christmas 2017. The single-story house was previously overshadowed by its taller two-story gabled neighbors. As the fire forced a reevaluation of scope and scale, Mork-Ulnes evaluated the proportions and exterior massing of neighboring homes. For the exterior, the charred black painted silhouette was intended to take cues from its quintessential San Francisco neighbors. The proportions, scale, and massing are derived from its surroundings, but reinterpret Edwardian design cues into more abstract decorative elements like siding patterns and solid-void composition.

Photo credit: Bruce Damonte

Golden Gate Heights Residence | John Lum Architecture   | https://johnlumarchitecture.com

Perched atop Golden Gate Heights with views of the Marin Headlands, this mid-century residence didn't do justice to its spectacular setting. A compartmentalized floor plan, with deteriorated fixtures and finishes, made for a dated feel. It was time for a major reset. The house was reconceptualized, inside and out. The goal was to elevate its roots and create a space that would accommodate large gatherings while keeping an intimate, personal feel for everyday living. The client had a strong aesthetic and having grown up in Eastern Europe wanted a house that would work with his collection of proto-modernist furniture. The focus was on simplifying the house. The exterior form was stripped of its dilapidated painted cladding and replaced with natural cedar siding and cement plaster; durable materials meant to weather in place. A shou sugi ban screen provides a unifying base, hiding the garage doors with the only penetration being the distinctive orange glass front gate. Passing through that gate is otherworldly, transforming the outside world into a surreal experience that recalls the Light and Space Movement of 1970’s California. Guests are ushered to a staircase that leads to a Zendo-inspired garden and front door.

Photo Credit: Paul Dyer

Russian Hill Residence | Dumican Mosey Architects |  https://www.dumicanmosey.com

Located at the end of a narrow mid-block alley in the pedestrian-oriented and densely rich context of San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, this project involved a reimagination and expansion of an existing two-unit home while merging the subject property with a small adjacent vacant lot bordering the shared mid-block open space. The design maintains the small existing building footprint, focusing on preserving the adjacent open space while expanding the living space by converting a storage area at the garden level and up through a single-story vertical addition. The bold, faceted, object-like red stair provides a glimpse into the nature of the house from the alley level and connects all 4 floors vertically. A quiet, modern façade becomes the reimagined face fronting the narrow alley and frames the pedestrian view to Coit Tower.

Photo Credit: Blake Marvin Photography

Mint Hill Residence | Red Dot Studio |  http://www.reddotstudio.com

The home was built for another site and another time. Moved from Bernal Heights to Waller Street, adjacent apartments blocked light into the windows built for another place. On an early trip to the home the architect saw that the bathroom lightwell had the best light and became the stair location bringing sunshine through the core of the house. The team added a story and a housing unit to the property with a garden apartment and two-story home above. The client’s strong eclectic design and environmental sensibility inspired the integration of a fan, radiant heat, no AC, PV with battery backup throughout the entire house. The home is almost entirely electric, except for the hot water heater, as Heat Pump Water Heaters were not as prevalent or affordable at the time of the design and build phase of this house. Gas is routed to the water heater and the homeowner’s goal is to replace this with an electric water heater when the time for replacement comes.

Photo Credit: Leslie Williamson

Twin Peaks Residence | Michael Hennessey Architecture |  https://www.hennesseyarchitect.com

On a downslope lot in San Francisco, a restrained composition of steel frames, aluminum windows, and deep gray cement plaster makes up the facade of this three-unit residential building. On the lower level, a two-story unit makes the most of its connection to the outdoors, opening to a spare garden finished with fine gravel and concrete, onto which dappled light spills through the canopy of a new tree. A double-height volume holds the living room and kitchen, while the bedroom tucks into a mezzanine for a private, cozy retreat. Strategically placed vertical windows provide privacy for the building’s one-story middle unit, the space slowly decompressing to culminate in a high-ceilinged living room that leads onto a generous deck with sweeping views of San Francisco. The distance from the street on the building’s highest level allowed the architects to give the owners’ suite, located on the top unit’s second floor, an entirely glazed front facade, producing a space with visual connections to its surroundings in both the front and the back.

Photo credit: Adam Rouse Photography

About AIA San Francisco | www.aiasf.org  

Serving the Bay Area for over a century, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting excellence in architecture, design, and the built environment. AIASF represents members practicing architecture, as well as allied community professionals in San Francisco and Marin counties. As a resource for our members and the public, AIA San Francisco strives to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area through community involvement, education, advocacy, public outreach, and member services.

About the Center for Architecture + Design | www.centersf.org

The Center for Architecture + Design is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to creating a public-focused dialogue on architecture, design, and the built environment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) in 2005, the Center enhances public appreciation for architecture and design through virtual and in-person exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series, and other programs.

About the Architecture + the City Festival | www.archandcity.org

Presented by the Center for Architecture + Design in collaboration with AIA San Francisco, the Annual Architecture + the City Festival takes place every year in September featuring behind-the-scenes programs, tours, lectures, film presentations, and more. These month-long programs provide an excellent opportunity for all communities to experience architecture and design in a myriad of ways throughout the city. Since 2003, we have worked to enrich these core events and have collaborated with countless design and community partners, firms, and organizations to further creative ideas and advance the conversation surrounding our local built environment, to celebrate accomplishments, and together work towards building a more sustainable future.

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The houses associated with Bay Area Historic House Museums are affiliated to promote better community awareness of these historic resources in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The houses showcase the breadth of history in the area: from early adobes, through Victorian mansions and farmhouses, to 20th century homes.

BAHHM membership is open to recognized local, state, and national historical landmark houses whose goal is to be open for interpretive tours in the eight San Francisco Bay Area counties i.e. Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma. These properties should be operated by public or non-profit agencies, principally for the use, education and enjoyment of the general public. Appropriate uses might include: architectural interpretation, furnished historical interior tours, garden/landscape interpretation, living history programs, and historic personage interpretation. Each house will be considered individually by the association. BAHHM serves as a clearing house for information of interest to members, develops networking contacts, provides opportunity for continuing education in the fields of site management, curation, conservation, etc,. and acts as an advocacy group for historic preservation.

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• Ardenwood Historic Farm
• To Reach the Park
• Accessibility ADA
• Attractions

Tue. thru Sun., 10am-4pm.  Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day  Open Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day

Entry Fees: see Entry Fees section | Parking: No Fee | Dogs: No Dogs Allowed

34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont, CA 94555

(510) 544-2797 Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4504

Internet & Cellular Access

Check AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon Coverage .  Select 'Map Layers' and switch on 'No Data Coverage Areas'

Park Activities

Ardenwood Historic Farm offers a glimpse into life on a family farm between 1890 and 1930. Step back in time as you explore the remnants of the once vast estate of George and Clara Patterson, whose family farmed the land for over 100 years, beginning in the 1850s. East Bay Regional Park District has operated the property as a fully functioning, turn-of-the-last-century farm since 1985. Today, Ardenwood demonstrates the role farms play in providing vital resources, driving innovation, and bringing together communities. Using carefully restored farm machinery, staff and volunteers invite visitors to join in the harvest and processing of crops once common in the region, including corn, wheat, and hay. A farmyard with a variety of animals, a large hay barn, an outdoor kitchen, and a working blacksmith shop create opportunities to make connections between everyday life, local farming history, and the land. Historic buildings and grounds, including the Patterson’s lovely Victorian farmhouse and surrounding formal gardens, give a glimpse of life at the turn-of-the-last-century.

Since Ardenwood is a working farm, the daily activities change from season to season so no two visits will be exactly alike. Visit our  Naturalist Program  page for more information and schedules before your next visit.

Ardenwood Historic Farm is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, year-round, including Labor Day and Memorial Day. Ardenwood is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For picnic reservations call 1-888-EBPARKS or  1-888-327-2757 , press option 2. There is no parking fee. Dogs are not allowed in the Ardenwood Historic Farm.

Note:  Dogs are not permitted in the park. Modern recreational equipment (e.g., frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, bicycles, balloons, and BBQs) are prohibited.

Restoration and operation of the Patterson House Museum is a project of the city of Fremont. For information call  (510) 791-4196 .

Ardenwood Bird Checklist

Ringed by major roads and industrial and residential areas, Ardenwood Historic Farm is an island of agricultural land, providing critical habitat for wildlife.  It is a refuge for birds that feed, roost, nest or just pass through. Over 99 species have been spotted around the park’s orchards, gardens, fields and groves.  This handy checklist includes seasonal information and abundance on everything from red-shouldered hawks and western bluebirds to Nuttall’s woodpeckers and Allen’s hummingbirds.  Download:  A Guide to the Birds of Ardenwood Historic Farm  [PDF]

January through March, and the Wed. before Thanksgiving through December: Tues. through Sun.: $4/adults (18+ years), $3/seniors (62+ year), $2/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. April through the Tues. before Thanksgiving: Tues., Wed. & Sat.: $4/adults (18+ years), $3/seniors (62+ year), $2/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. Thurs., Fri. and Sun.: $6/adults (18+ years), $5/seniors (62+ year), $4/children (4-17 years), under 4 years - free. 

Special Event Entry Fees

$8-$30/adults* (18+ years), $6-$30/seniors* (62+ year), $5-$25/children* (4-17 years) *Special event entry fees may vary. Please call  (510) 544-2797  or email  [email protected]  for updated information.

Ardenwood Naturalist Programs

Join us for our monthly programs!

To Reach The Park

Main entrance.

From I-880 in Fremont, take the Decoto Road/Dumbarton Bridge/Highway 84 exit. Go west on Highway 84 toward the Dumbarton Bridge. Take the Ardenwood/Newark Blvd. exit and turn right (north) onto Ardenwood Blvd. The park entrance is ahead, on the right.

Public Transit

Public transportation: Take AC Transit buses #232 or #264 on weekdays and #332 on weekends from Union City BART to the bus stop on Newark Boulevard under the freeway. To return, the bus stop is on Newark Boulevard just south of the freeway in front of the shopping center.

Public transit information  or call 511 (TDD (hearing impaired line)/TTY: 1-800-448-9790) to confirm transit information. 

Park Accessibility

The majority of facilities in Ardenwood are wheelchair accessible: Patterson House, Hay Barn, Train Ride, Granary, Cafe, restrooms, and wedding and reception sites. Most of the roads are paved and there are no significant grade changes.  Public transit information .

Some of the park features include the followings:

• Arden Station and Deer Park Station:  During its operating season (usually April-mid November), board the farm’s train here. It takes you back more than 100 years to a time when railroads connected the East Bay’s farms to towns and cities. The train is operated by Ardenwood’s Railroad Museum with staff and docents dressed in period costumes. For information,  visit the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR) website
• Victorian Garden:  The garden area looks much like it did near the turn of the 20th century.
• Patterson House:  Home to three generations of the Patterson family. It began as George Patterson's bachelor farmhouse built in 1857. The house was expanded with a Queen Anne addition in 1889 as the family, the farm, and their place in East Bay society grew. Costumed docents conduct house tours seasonally (April-mid-November). For information call  (510) 791-4196 .
• Farmyard Cafe:  Open on weekends serving Mission Coffee, healthy snacks, delicious lunch options and locally made treats and treasures. Birthday Party Catering offered as well. Please contact Lindsey at 510-754-9877 or email:  [email protected] . Open from 10:00am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Animal Farms:  At Ardenwood, you will see sheep, pigs, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, goats, and cows. Download:  Ardenwood Farm Animals  

Naturalist Programs

Through Ardenwood's educational programs, visitors can see and participate in many activities common to a turn-of-last-century farm. Weekdays, naturalists provide programs for school classes and other groups by reservation. Please see our Educators Resources information here or call (510) 544-2797 for further information.

• Fieldtrip Online Form

Non-reservation weekend programs include the planting, tending and harvesting of Ardenwood's organic crops, farm chore demonstrations, and hands-on experiences for the whole family.

Special Events

Special events include an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, Harvest Festival in October, special music concerts, recreations of Victorian social events, and more. To see a list of upcoming special events, visit the  Registration, Facilities and Permits  website to browse programs or register online.

Ardenwood Farm Docents

Share your enthusiasm for history! We're looking for people who want to learn to cook on a wood stove, demonstrate antique farm machinery, and teach historic crafts such as spinning, weaving, and toy making. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to help our staff create a welcoming atmosphere for schoolchildren and families. Our next docent training date is TBD. Call  (510) 544-3285  or email  [email protected]  for an application and details.

Weddings and Picnics

For picnic information, see our Ardenwood Picnic Areas  webpage.

For more information, see our Event Venues webpage.

The Pool Site is open for weddings and special events. This gorgeous space is cradled by mature redwood trees, soft wisteria draping the dance floor arbor and bistro string lights hanging overhead to create a magical reception venue. Please contact Lindsey Caravelli at  (510) 754-9877  or  [email protected] . More information:  Ardenwood Events .

Activity Schedule: April to November

Ardenwood Historic Farm is closed on Mondays (except Memorial Day & Labor Day).

Upcoming Events

Farmyard Story Time

Garden chores for kids, rabbit rendezvous, historic days, meet the chickens, learn the ropes, park calendar.

Ardenwood Historic Farm is open on Memorial Day & Labor Day.

• Ardenwood Historic Farm - Activity Calendar

Wild Plant Guides

• Wildflower Photo Guide  [PDF]
• Wild Plant Photo Guide  [PDF]
• Ardenwood - Calflora Plant List
• Ardenwood – PlantID.net ID Guide

Interpretive Brochures

• Ardenwood Historic Farm - Spanish
• Ardenwood Historic Farm Animals

Program Flyers

• Brownie Recipe Handout
• Cookie Contest Recipes
• Popcorn Popping Instructions (For popcorn picked from Ardenwood)
• Vegetable Histories
• Plan Be Nimble, Plan Be Quick  – NAI

Ardenwood Historic Farm - Wayside Map

Leal Tank House

Japanese Teahouse

The Patterson House

Ohlone Indian Village Site

The William Patterson House

Wandering Butterflies

Why Are There Trains On The Farm

Digital walking tour.

Ardenwood Digital Walking Tour

2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 1-888-EBPARKS, 1-888-327-2757 (Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711)

Home and Garden | Follow Frank Lloyd Wright’s footsteps in Bay…

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Breaking News

Home and garden | marian robinson dies at 86; michelle obama’s mother lived with first family at white house, home and garden, home and garden | follow frank lloyd wright’s footsteps in bay area home tour, orinda, san anselmo, hillsborough houses featured in july fundraiser to save his works.

Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group

Observers have noted the form of this home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright has the profile of a sailing vessel. The Maynard Buehler in Orinda will be open for tours on July 27.

An interior hallway of the Maynard Buehler home in Orinda, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1949.

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright considered garages to be wasted space and cost, so homes he designed, such as the Maynard Buehler home in Orinda, had a car port.

The expansive living room in the Maynard Buehler home in Orinda, features a soaring ceiling with a 14 karat gold leaf inset to reflect the light. The home is one of three Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes in the Bay Area included on a tour.

The architecture of the Buehler home was designed to blend with the landscape and nature.

Frank Lloyd Wright left few details escape him, including the design of the dining table, which he believed should seat no more than six.

The house originally had a pool just off the bedrooms, but it was later converted into a koi pond.

A bust of Frank Lloyd Wright pays tribute to the architect, who designed this Orinda home.

The kitchen, which was remodeled after a fire, was considered too small by 6-foot-tall Katherine Buehler, but architect Frank Lloyd Wright simply told her women had been emancipated from the kitchen.

A desk just off the master bedroom suite.

Before the open kitchen concept, Frank Lloyd Wright designed openings that allowed the cook to look out on the dining room.

The home is filled with cabinets, drawers and cubbyholes for storage.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a connected office and studio for Maynard Buehler, an inventor.

Copies of the original blueprints and designs are on display in the master bedroom.

The master bath.

What was one of the Buehler's daughter's bedroom, now a guest room.

The master bedroom shows elements of Wright's design -- cinder block walls, redwood cabinetry and concrete slab floor.

One of the daughter's bedrooms was converted into a dressing room after a fire damaged part of the home in the 1990s.

Maynard Buehler's work room.

While the ceiling in the living room features a soaring roof line, the rest of the house and adjoining buildings have flat roofs, favored by Wright.

Like a ghost wandering the halls of its own creation, the legend of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright lingers in the curves and angles, masonry and woodwork, and even the furnishings of one of his standout “Usonian” homes, the Maynard Buehler house in Orinda.

The Buehler house, tucked into an unassuming cul de sac, is one of three Wright-designed Bay Area homes that will be open for tours in the coming two weekends.

In addition to the Buehler house, the Bazett/Frank house in Hillsborough and the Robert Berger house in San Anselmo will also be open to the public. They are part of a California inaugural fundraising tour conducted by the Frank Lloyd Wright Revival Initiative. Two others in Bakersfield and Bradbury were on the tour earlier this month.

The Bazett/Frank house contains the smallest bedroom ever designed by Wright, nicknamed “The Mummy Room.” The Berger house includes the storied Wright-designed doghouse, known as Eddie’s House, designed for a 12-year old boy and his dog. It is the only doghouse that the architect is known to have created.

“We are embarking on a home tour this July, which will provide the opportunity for Frank Lloyd Wrightophiles all over the country to visit Wright-designed private homes rarely available for public tours, plus meet with high-profile Wright experts and original client descendants,” says Michael Miner, a documentary filmmaker who specializes in films on Wright architecture, and the founder and CEO of the Wright Revival Initiative.

Then Katherine Buehler learned of a couple who had persuaded Wright to come to San Francisco to build a store, the Morris Gift Shop on Maiden Lane. She wrote to Wright, asking him to consider designing a home for them. After hearing nothing, the couple hired a San Francisco architect but were happy with neither the design nor the cost. Then one day, the phone rang and a man identified himself as their architect and asked to meet. It was Wright.

It took four months to draw up the plans and about a year to build. It was not always a happy collaboration. The Buehlers found Wright arrogant at times and unwilling to divert much from his original plans. When the 6-foot tall Katherine Buehler complained that the kitchen looked small, Wright informed her that women had been emancipated from the kitchen, which was news to Mrs. Buehler.

But when the home was finished, everyone was happy, including Wright, who showed up unannounced one day after the Buehlers had settled in. After a tour, Wright proclaimed that he had built them a beautiful home. And he had.

The Buehler home was one of about 60 that Wright designed in the style he called “Usonian” — homes meant as affordable alternatives for the middle class and the word an alternative to “American” for that which pertains to the United States. Wright had wanted to use slate for construction, but the Buehlers found it too expensive, so Wright settled on an unconventional material — cinder block. The material turned out to be inexpensive, says Nadine Smith, event coordinator for the home, but a dickens to work with, which ended up adding to the cost of the home.

Wright also chose old-growth redwood for the interior and exterior, a copper roof and 14-karat gold leaf on the ceilings. The floors, made of concrete slabs, were stained in Wright’s favorite color, Cherokee red. Wright had two conditions before he would officially start the project. He insisted the Buehlers purchase the surrounding property, which has streams running through it, and that they hire landscape architect Henry Matsutani, who renovated the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The Buehlers agreed.

Wright had definite ideas about a lot of things outside the architectural realm. He believed the perfect-size dinner party was no more than six guests, so he designed a dining table for the Buehlers with exactly six chairs, all with low backs so they didn’t obstruct the view.

After the Buehlers’ deaths, the house was sold to Gerald Shmavonian, whom Smith describes as a collector of all things. Shmavonian began opening the house to wedding parties and events — Vogue magazine named it one of the five best places in the country to get married — and soon was confronted by cul de sac neighbors complaining about traffic and noise. The city also fined him, but while Smith says Shmavonian has reached an agreement with Orinda to permit the events to continue, Drummond Buckley, Orinda’s planning director, says there is no such agreement and that the city continues to fine Shmavonian.

Proceeds from the tour are earmarked for the Wright Revival Initiative’s efforts to save Wright-designed buildings. The initiative was originally formed to raise money to rebuild a Wright pavilion in Alberta, Canada. Miner says after the demolition of one of Wright’s Prairie School buildings in 2018, the group expanded its mission to preserve existing Wright structures that are threatened.

To date, the group has committed $200,000 toward the acquisitions of the Spring House in Tallahassee, Florida, and $25,000 for the Pappas House Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri. It also has committed to raise $45,000 to preserve and rebuild what remains of the Oboler Estate in Malibu, which was destroyed in last year’s Woolsey Fire.

Tickets for the tours are $150 a person; $100 for American Institute of Architects members; and $25 for students.

• Bazett/Frank house , Hillsborough, 2:30 p.m. July 20
• Buehler house , Orinda, 2:30 p.m. July 27
• Berger house , San Anselmo, 5:30 p.m. July 28

Correction: July 19, 2019:  An earlier version of this article included a statement that the home's owner had reached an agreement with the City of Orinda to permit weddings and special events to occur at the home. City officials say that is incorrect; no agreement has been reached and the city continues to cite the owner.

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Tour a Colorful and Unique Home in Berkeley, California

By Hannah Martin

Photography by Sam Frost

“We fell in love with the property for its slightly haunting presence,” says the tech executive who lives in this 1910s home in Berkeley, California. “Gnarled oak trees, mullioned windows, thick morning fog, and enough rooms to get lost inside. I like that it came with its own character and personality.” And then there were the views—when the fog clears, every main room delivers a sweeping vista of the San Francisco Bay.

But sometimes, with character and personality come those bits and pieces that need to be whipped into shape. Enter interior designer Becky Carter , who’s based between New York and California. Working closely with the client, she and her team took the turn-of-the-century charm of the historic home, and transformed it into a place that felt fresh, modern, and tailored to the everyday needs of a busy young family. In her words: “honoring the original in a way that wasn’t too on the nose.”

Built by architect William A. Knowles in 1910 with a 1920s addition by Walter Radcliff, the house is a bit of an architectural mashup, with elements of British Arts and Crafts mixing in with the California Craftsman and Art Deco styles of that time. It had a lot going for it. Unlike many homes of its era, its hilltop location and south-facing windows keep rooms flooded with natural light, lending an almost modern atmosphere to the otherwise historical setting. The only room that did feel a bit dark was the kitchen, but Carter remedied that by opening up the layout between kitchen and dining area (“We wanted to be able to talk between the kitchen and table,” explains the client), creating a floor plan that felt better suited to contemporary life. The kitchen was outfitted with custom millwork and ceramic, terra-cotta-hued tiles, while bathrooms were revamped with hunks of statement stone and graphic tiles. For added utility, they constructed a new powder room off of the kitchen.

Carter’s client, who had experimented with a more neutral scheme in her previous home in Palo Alto, was ready to go full throttle into color for the interiors (she particularly gravitates toward blues and greens). She worked with Carter to mix it all together, looking at Arts and Crafts references—British maestro William Morris in particular—as well as the moody color palettes of Pre-Raphaelite paintings for inspiration. A Voutsa wallpaper called Rain Song, which greets visitors in the entryway, captures Carter’s intended aesthetic. “The overall styling of the wallpaper has a sort of traditional structure,” Carter explains. “But the detail behind it, which is this marbled pattern, feels a little bit edgy, a little bit modern. It does exactly what we are doing with the overall house.”

Patterns like this one, or the Morris & Co. Bird and Pomegranate wallpaper that wraps the secret reading nook in the client’s office, sit happily with a range of colorful textiles (drapes made from Schumacher and Romo prints) and works of art. Carter worked closely with the client to assemble a collection that felt personal, and in keeping with the space. “She tended toward art with a lot of color. She tended towards figurative work. She loved seeing the artist's hand,” explains Carter who hung the piece de resistance–a reclining nude by Cannon Dill—in the sitting room so that the subject appears to be gazing out the window at the Bay Area beyond.

All the while, functionality was at the center of the design process. “Everything had to be kid-friendly and spill tolerant,” explains the client. “Our choices of materials and finishes reflect this—the dining room rug is remarkably resilient; the double layer of pillows in the family room pulls off and turns into a slide for the stairs; and you can’t tell how much coffee and wine have been spilled on our kitchen counters because soapstone is invincible.”

In many rooms, they worked to craft spaces the homeowners’ son could enjoy to the fullest. Upstairs in his room Carter devised a cozy hideout, not unlike the funky built-ins in her client’s tech office. Downstairs, a craft room is wrapped in cork, equipped to display the kid’s never-ending stream of artwork. Meanwhile, two back-to-back living rooms offer different vibes. “This is more of a rough and tumble space,” explains Carter of the laid-back family room where curvy lounge chairs and an inlaid white oak coffee table by 9 & 19 sit beneath a vaulted ceiling, painted Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue . Meanwhile, in the sitting room next door an elegant, camel-colored chaise, a velvet-wrapped sofa, and a pair of &Tradition oak armchairs gather around a burlwood cocktail table by Christiane Lemieux. “This room was designed for socializing—conversation, sitting, and watching the view.”

Now that the homeowners are moved in and settled, the house is starting to come to life. “During the week, it’s fairly quiet,” explains the client. “But on the weekends, we like to host friends and have a noisy full house.” Cardboard forts are erected not far from where dinner is served, atop an antique dining table. “Several generations of my family have eaten at this dinner table,” she explains of the timeworn heirloom, a reminder of her East Coast roots. Now, her own family is writing the next chapter.

Voutsa’s Rain Song wallpaper in the entrance, surrounded by trim in Artifact by PPG and illuminated by a fixture from Roman and Williams Guild, perfectly encapsulates Carter’s decorating approach: “It has its sort of traditional structure to the overall styling of the wallpaper,” Carter explains. “But the detail behind it, which is this marbled pattern, feels a little bit edgy, a little bit modern. It does exactly what we are doing with the overall house.” The painted-birch cabinet is by Jiri Krejcirik.

In the family room, the sculptural chairs are by Artilleriet, the side table is from Avenue Road, and the inlaid white oak cocktail table is by 9&19. The ceramic artwork over the fireplace is by Reinaldo Sanguino. Carter painted the fireplace (as well as the room’s trim) PPG’s Artifact and clad it with Fireclay tiles in Kelp.

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“We needed to achieve a feeling of relaxed modernity while still honoring the Edwardian architectural elements of the house,” explains the tech executive who lives with her young family in this 1910-built Berkeley home. “It’s a balancing act.” Here, in the sitting room, interior designer Becky Carter mixed modern forms—like the camel-hued velvet chaise the client adores by Shine by Sho and a burl wood cocktail table by Christiane Lemieux—with classics, like a velvet-wrapped sofa by Martin & Brockett, and a pair of &Tradition oak armchairs. The reclining nude painting is by Cannon Dill, the other, over the fireplace, is by Renee Bouchan. The mushroom shaped ceramic lamp is by Olivia Cognet and the vintage Arts & Crafts wool rug is from 1stdibs .

A Technicolor vintage Artemide Murano glass chandelier hangs over the piano in the sitting room, which is amped up by one of Seungjin Yang’s resin balloon stools and an artwork by Piet Hein Eek.

“Several generations of my family have eaten at this dinner table,” says the client of the vintage piece, surrounded by Gebrüder Thonet chairs from Stillfried Wien, in the lively dining room, painted PPG Paints’ Hourglass , with Polaris on the trims and doors. A Murano glass chandelier crowns the space, which is also accented by a Ralph Lauren Home rug and a Reinaldo Sanguino sculpture on the console table.

“We wanted the kitchen to have a bit of an arts and crafts feel,” explains Carter, who adorned custom millwork with hardware from Rejuvenation . She opened up the traditional layout to create a more free flowing kitchen and dining space, better suited for socializing and entertaining, which is now separated by shelves stacked with ceramics. The stool is by Reinaldo Sanguino from the Future Perfect, the ceramic floor tiles are by Tierra Y Fuego, the flush mounts are by MacLaren Fixture and the vintage rugs belonged to the client.

Originally, the client was not feeling very excited about this rather dark room that would become her home office. But after some tree management outside and a coat of Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, the space transformed into a light, bright room she loves. The vintage pendant is by Luci Cinisello Balsamo, the painting is by Allison James, the lounge is by Lawson-Fenning and the desk is a family heirloom

The reading nook, tucked away in the client’s home office, is wrapped in Morris & Co.’s Bird and Pomegranate wallpaper. The doors are painted Farrow & Ball’s Sudbury Yellow .

Wine-hued DDS Tile and matching trim paired with bold, Calacatta Viola marble brings the new powder room—added off the kitchen—to life.

In the cozy primary bedroom, painted PPG’s Freedom Found, vintage Art Deco nightstands flank a De La Espada bed upholstered in Lee Jofa fabric. The statement chair is by Chris Wolston, the artwork is by Cannon Dill, the bench at the foot of the bed is by Nort Studio, and the chandelier is by Soho Home.

Graphic tile by Arto Tile and swirling stone lend a contemporary touch to the primary bath, which has otherwise more traditional touches such as custom cabinetry and medicine cabinets designed by Studio Becky Carter. The sink fittings are by Waterworks and the sconces are by Urban Electric.

“I used to play hide and seek in this wardrobe at my grandmother's house,” says the client of the family heirloom that occupies the guest bedroom, alongside a lounge chair from Forom shop and a CB2 side table.

“The client was down to really put some thought into making this room really fun and playful and engaging,” explains Carter, who designed the custom plywood millwork and window seating (the cushion is wrapped in a graphic fabric by Holly Hunt). “She wanted it to just be a place that her kid wanted to come home to and play in.” The chair is by Goodee.

Custom oak cabinets and wall paneling mixes with floor tiling from Ceramica Vogue and a stool by Moustache in the kid’s bath.

“This is a self-contained space where kids can really just let loose,” explains Carter of this playroom that doesn’t feel too kiddy. “The clients’ son is a natural born artist and they really wanted a place where he could hang all of his creations.” To accommodate, Carter lined the walls with Bangor Cork so that the room could act as a revolving pseudo gallery and installed Reform cabinetry stocked with art supplies, games, and toys. The bench seating is from West Elm , the armchair is 1960s Norwegian, the table is by Ethnicraft, and the wool rug is by Nordic Knots.

The playroom bath features tile by DDS, a mirror from Lulu and Georgia , and sconces by Atelier Areti for Monologue London.

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

By Alia Akkam

By Kathryn O'Shea-Evans

By Katherine McLaughlin

6 Historic Homes You Need to Visit in San Francisco

San Francisco is infamous for having expensive homes, but it’s also famous for having important historic properties that have been dutifully preserved since 1850.

Meld your affinity for real estate, history, and San Francisco’s aestheticism by paying a visit to some of these architecturally fascinating estates. You can even spend the night at one if admiring them from afar isn’t satisfying enough.

Painted Ladies aside, here is a compilation of 6 properties in San Francisco that every history buff and real estate aficionado should visit.

Related: Homeownership Under $1M: 7 Cheapest San Francisco Neighborhoods

1. The Grateful Dead House

The Grateful Dead House, the dark brown Queen Anne house photographed above, lives true to its name: it’s the house where the Grateful Dead lived during the 1960s. Located in the Haight on 710 Ashbury Street, visiting this home is an absolute necessity for all Dead Heads and lovers of hippie history. Fair warning, this home is privately owned, so don’t go knocking for Jerry.

Related: Love It or Haight It: Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Guide

2. The Octagon House

The McElroy Octagon House, also known as the Colonial Dames Octagon House, is a historic property located at 2645 Gough Street. Built in 1861, this architectural treasure is a Colonial and Federal Periods Decorative Arts Museum. The museum and garden are open to the public from 12PM to 3PM on the 2nd Sunday and the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month except January. Notably, it carries the shape of an octagon.

3. The  Abner Phelps House

Though the stories about this residence vary depending on the teller, the Abner Phelps house is considered to be the oldest unaltered residence in San Francisco, dating back to 1850. This Gothic Revival home was built by John Middleton & Sons, who was one of the first real estate “concerns” in the City. This house has changed locations a few times, but it is now settled at 1111 Oak Street.

4. The William Westerfeld House

Nestled on the northwest corner of Alamo Square at 1198 Fulton Street, the eye-popping William Westerfeld House is San Francisco Landmark Number 135 and sure to grab the attention of the most distracted of passersby. The first owner of this House of Legends was William Westerfield, a German-born confectioner who arrived in San Francisco in the 1870s. He hired builder Henry Geilfuss to construct a modest 28-room mansion for his family of 6.  After Westerfeld died, John Mahony, who built St. Francis Hotel and the Palace Hotel, purchased and expanded the property. The current owner is Jim Siegel, who purchased the mansion in 1986 and has since retrofitted and upgraded the home.

Related:  Views and Victorians: Things to Do in Alamo Square Park

5.  The Chateau Tivoli

Residing in the Alamo Square Historic District at 1057 Steiner Street, Chateau Tivoli is not only a restored 1892 structure embedded with Victorian antiques, it’s a bed and breakfast! As such, if you really want to indulge your penchant for history, this property might be as close as you can get to time traveling.

6. The Haas-Lilienthal House

Plotted on 2007 Franklin Street, the Haas-Lilienthal House is the the only period era home open to the public in San Francisco. This traditional Queen Anne house exemplifies upper-middle class life in the Victorian era. Designed by German architect Peter R. Schmidt in 1886, this home was commissioned William Haas who was a Bavarian immigrant and considered a leader in the Jewish community. Built of redwood and fir, the house withstood both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with only minor damage, making it one of few existing landmarks to have survived the quake.

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• Haas Lilienthal House

Haas Lilienthal House: Visit a Historical Victorian in San Francisco's Pacific Heights

by Jill Loeffler   •

Updated: April 2, 2024

The Haas Lilienthal House is set to offer guided tours again on select Saturdays starting May 11, 2024. The reopening will take place on May 4, 2024 with a free open house and a big book sale from 11 am to 4 pm.

The Haas Lilienthal House is a historic beauty in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood. This Queen Anne is the only Victorian House in SF regularly open to the public for tours.

William Haas, a local merchant, built the house for his family in 1886. Three generations of the Haas family lived in the home until 1972.

The remaining family gifted the house to the San Francisco Architectural Heritage Organization, who continues to maintain it to this day.

Disclaimer : I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Visiting the House

The Haas Lilienthal House is open for guided tours on select Saturdays.

Admission and Hours

The Haas Lilienthal House tours are offered three times a day on select Saturdays: at noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm. The entire tour runs about an hour.

Tickets are available online. Since space is limited, advanced reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted when there is space.

General admission is $10, children under 5 are free.

*The venue is closed at times due to private events. Make sure to check their site for current prices and opening dates .

Haas Lilienthal House Tour Details

Your tour begins in this area with an overview and history of the Haas Lilienthal family. Here you will also learn a little more about the house and the standard elements of a Queen Anne Victorian.

After this brief discussion, you will head outside, so you can enter through the front door.

This grand staircase is one of the first things you see when you enter.

You will then walk through the main level of the house including both the dining room and the kitchen.

From here, you will head to the second floor. On this level, you get the chance to see the unique curved windows.

Along the way, you will continue to learn more about the family and see several family photos. You also get the chance to find out more about their furniture and the other pieces they collected throughout their lifetime.

The San Francisco Archeological Heritage did a great job in keeping the house and furniture in the manner the family left it. The family collected all of the pieces inside the house while they lived there between 1886 and 1972.

After finishing on the second floor, your tour heads back to the starting point on the ground level. Here you get a sneak peek at the train room.

The entire tour is just over an hour long. If you've always wanted to see inside a Victorian, you will love this tour.

The most famous Victorian Houses in San Francisco are near Alamo Square. Often dubbed the "Seven Sisters", these colorful houses are a beautiful site. You can even capture a postcard moment with a view of downtown SF behind them. See pictures and read more about them here .

How to Get Here

You will find this Queen Anne Victorian at 2007 Franklin Street.

From Union Square

The fastest way to get here from Union Square is to take the Powell Hyde Cable Car . Pick it up at Powell and Post Streets (instead of waiting in the long line at the cable car turnaround near Market Street).

Take it to the stop at Hyde and Jackson Streets. From here you will walk west on Jackson Street and take a left on Franklin.

This option includes a five block walk from the stop to the Haas Lilienthal House. 

This option will take you about 25 minutes.

From Fisherman's Wharf

It's easy to get here from Fisherman's Wharf . Simply hop on the 28-Daily City bus at the corner of Powell and Beach Streets.

You will take this six stops to the corner of Van Ness and North Point. Here, you will transfer to the 49-City College bus.

Take it to the corner of Van Ness and Jackson.

Walk up the hill one block to Franklin and then south a couple of houses until you see the entrance sign. This route takes about 25 minutes. 

Parking Near the Haas Lilienthal House

If you plan to drive for your visit to the Haas Lilienthal House, you will find that parking on the street in the Pacific Heights neighborhood is challenging. I recommend heading straight to one of these lots that is just a few blocks away.

Holiday Inn Parking Lot : This is your best option as it's a safe and secure spot for your car. It's about a five block walk away and partly uphill, but it's one of your best options. It's at 1500 Van Ness Street. 

Old First Parking Garage : This lot is an indoor lot at 1725 Sacramento Street. Look for its bright blue and yellow sign. It's about four blocks away from the Haas Lilienthal House.

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You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!

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This Sacramento Stunner Is Built to Beat Intense Heat. Learn How They Did It on The Bay Area Modern Architecture Tour.

The Annual Bay Area Modern Architecture Tour is BACK. And thanks to technology, its borders have expanded to include wine country—and this gem that’s designed to maximize shade and natural circulation on toasty days.

A couple of new habits and trends that have developed during lockdown are likely here to stay. One is our willingness to do things online that we may have never considered before—like take virtual tours. And our fixation on turning our homes into high-functioning havens for work and play doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. These two ideas collide in the Bay Area Modern Architecture tour this Saturday, June 26th, organized by the Modern Architecture + Design Society, an organization that plans these events in neighborhoods across the country, in places like Austin and Seattle. The best part is that if you miss the livestream this Saturday, it’ll be available for viewing online, at your leisure. There’s a $5 discount on the ticket price for Sunset readers , too. (See—technology isn’t so bad.)

Another bonus for this year’s digital tour: Because travel time and distance is not a factor, homes are scattered from Sonoma to Sacramento . Prominent architects like Gustave Carlson, Andrew Morrall, Timeline Design + Build, DNM Architecture, Feldman Architecture, and Klopf Architecture have opened up some of their favorite properties to real estate voyeurs and design buffs. And they’re all packed with great ideas for living in the West.

Mariko Reed

Klopf built this modern Sacramento ranch house for a chef and a television producer, empty nesters who plan to stay in the house through their retirement. The priority was to create an easy-living house with a connection to the outdoors. It’s sited on a large plot in a semi-rural area surrounded by an open field, large oak trees, and a seasonal creek.

The Klopf Architecture team designed a wide plan for the house that allows the main living space, bathrooms, and master bedroom to open up to the landscape at the rear of the house, with sliding doors for direct access. It was important for the house to sit lightly and keep a relatively low profile out of respect for neighboring houses and the natural feel (i.e., low-impact landscaping) of the area. They sloped the roof to be at its lowest in the front and open up to the rear, intended to create a humbler appearance from the front and open up the back view with larger windows.

The plan was also focused on using energy, namely air conditioning, efficiently. In the morning when the sun is low and direct in the front of the house, the residents open their rear sliding glass doors or live outside on the rear decks. In the middle of the day when the sun moves overhead from the south, the extra deep overhangs and shading devices keep the rear patios comfortable. At the end of the day, when the sun is blasting the rear of the house, the front patio is in shade, but still bright because of openings in the roof. In-wall insulation and a continuous layer of rigid insulation was applied to the exterior walls of the house to lower the heat gain from the sun.

A “cool roof” metal roof was used to reflect much of the direct sun and heat before it can heat up the house. The windows are all thermally broken aluminum. In addition to these defensive strategies, the Klopf Architecture team specified high efficiency heating and cooling units. Composite siding from Tru-Grain, made with recycled materials, maintains the look of wood and lasts longer than wood could in the intense Sacramento sun. Smooth white stucco is a visible separation of the main living area from the exterior.

The main living space has an exposed concrete floor with composite granite counters and white oak cabinets. The bedroom wing uses reclaimed white oak flooring from Blackwood Farm to create a more restful, quiet feeling.

“People often ask about challenges during demolition and construction. The house project started as an option between tearing down and replacing the existing home and renovating it. The owners originally decided on a renovation, but during construction Sean van Gelder, the builder, discovered that the slab and foundation were too damaged to keep. At that point everyone shifted gears and turned the project into a new house design,” says John Klopf, Principal Architect. Once it was finished, there were no regrets.

A 2021 Season Pass is also available that grants access to all virtual tours in 2021 and includes a ticket to pass holders once live events resume. For more information on the 2021 Virtual Modern Home Tour Season Pass and to see the current schedule of 2021 tours, check out the MADS site.

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• architecture
• Home & Garden
• Idea Houses
• Ranch House

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