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| Bernard Maybeck's Jewel |
| Here is a peek at this remarkable building. |
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Photo courtesy of First Church Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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| Photo courtesy of First Church Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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Maybeck was born in New York
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in 1862. In 1882 he traveled to Paris
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where he studied architecture at the Ecole
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des Beaux Arts. His studies exposed
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him to design theories which combined
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architectural styles of the past with the
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technological advancements of the age.
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Maybeck built on these design
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principles and developed an eclectic
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vocabulary of forms and materials.
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This is beautifully expressed in First Church
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of Christ Scientist, Berkeley.
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| Photo courtesy of First Church Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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| Photo courtesy of First Church Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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Its design in 1910 resulted in the |
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construction of a dramatic building in 1911 |
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which combines Gothic tracery with the |
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California Craftsman style. Throughout the |
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interior the use of metal industrial windows as |
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well as brilliant color on cast concrete and |
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wood defied all the rules of church architecture. |
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The church offers a free tour of the building |
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on the 1st Sunday of every month at 12:15. |
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The tour lasts about 45 minutes. |
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Bernard Maybeck's |
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First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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has not been restored since its |
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construction in 1910-1911. |
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With Getty Foundation support, |
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an historic structures report with |
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restoration planning has been completed. |
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HABS/HAER photography |
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will record the historic fabric. At this time, |
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there is an urgent need for funds to |
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replace the aged and leaking roof. |
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| Photo courtesy of First Church Christ Scientist, Berkeley |
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| To donate to the Getty Foundation "Architectural Conservation Implementation Grant" click here. |
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| Would you like to support the preservation of this National Historic Landmark? |
| Join Friends of First Church! |
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| Please check the 2009 Concert and Events Page below for current events. |
| contact us, info@friendsoffirstchurch.org |
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| The contents of this website - photos and text are protected. Copyright 2009© Friends of First Church |
