Address
775 San Diego Rd, Berkeley, CA
Price
$ 1,425,000
Property Attributes
- ID#41145455
- TypeSingle Family
- Listing Status Pending
- CountyAlameda
- CityBerkeley
- NeighborhoodThousand Oaks
- Zip94707
- StyleMid Century Modern
- Year Built1952
- Price$ 1,425,000
- Bedrooms3
- Full Bathrooms2
- Half Bathrooms0
- Sqr Footage1904
- Lot Size0.13 Acres
Data Source:
Bay East MLS, CCAR MLS, or bridgeMLS
Property Description
At 775 San Diego Road, directly across from John Hinkel Park, the Kip House is one of the remarkable early residential works of Berkeley modernist Donald Olsen. Designed in 1952 for UC Berkeley physicist Arthur Frederic Kip, the house belongs to a formative moment in Olsen’s career, when the principles of European modernism — particularly the Bauhaus — were finding a new expression in California. Olsen embraced the Bauhaus’ emphasis on clarity, functional planning and the elimination of unnecessary ornament. An austere simplicity that feels like the way we want to live today. More than seventy years later, it is striking how modern the Kip House feels. Its clean geometry, expanses of glass and remarkably fluid plan still read as contemporary Olsen uses the slope of the site to create a sequence of subtly changing levels. The approach leads to an intermediate level containing the kitchen and dining spaces. The kitchen opens directly to the dining room — and continues outward into a secluded English garden, a backyard that feels like another room of the house. From this central level, the plan rises to a raised living room and study, while two of the bedrooms occupy the lower portion of the house. Large glazed walls bring the surrounding trees into almost every room, dissolving the distinction between interior and exterior. The effect changes constantly through the day as light, foliage and shadow move across the rooms. Against this composition, notice how the red balcony brings a flash of color and geometry, a nod to the use of primary colors and work of Le Corbusier. Directly across the street is John Hinkel Park, giving the house an unusual degree of greenery and quiet despite being only minutes from central Berkeley. Energy Score is 1. At approximately 1,904 square feet, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study, the house is exceptionally laid out, with very little wasted circulation and almost no space without a purpose. The Kip House makes the ideas of the past feel relevant today: open living, connection to landscape, efficient use of space, privacy without enclosure and architecture that responds closely to its site. And now, for only the second time in its history, the house awaits its next steward — someone who recognizes its architectural significance, embraces its magic, and comes to love it as deeply as the Kips and its current owner have.
| Price History | |
|---|---|
| 8/19/2026 | Listed $1,425,000 |
General Features
| Living Area | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Sewer | Public Sewer |
| Heating | Forced Air |
| Cooling | None |
| Roof | Bitumen |
| Appliances | Dishwasher,Electric Range,Refrigerator,Dryer,Washer |
| Garage Spaces | 1 |
| Architectural Style | Mid Century Modern |
| Pool Features | None |
| Construction Materials | Stucco,Wood Siding |
| Year Built | 1952 |
| Electric | No Solar |
| Stories Count | 3 |
| Levels | Three or More Stories |
| Property Subtype | Detached |
| County | Alameda |
| New Construction | false |
| Property Type | Residential |
| HOA | false |
| Subdivision Name | Thousand Oaks |
| Garage Y/N | false |
| Total Rooms | 8 |
| Full Baths | 2 |
| Status | Pending |
| Directions | Indian Rock to San Diego. |
| City | Berkeley |
| High School District | Berkeley (510) 644-6150 |
| MLS Area | Listing |
| Lot Size Square Feet | 5718 |
| Property Condition | Existing |
| Virtual Tour | https://www.775sandiego.com/mls/255387686 |
| Standard Status | Pending |
| Elementary School District | Berkeley (510) 644-6150 |
Interior Features
| Interior Amenities | Office |
|---|---|
| Flooring | Hardwood,Tile,Other |
| Total Fireplaces | 1 |
| Fireplace Features | Living Room |
| Air Conditioning Y/N | false |
| Heating Y/N | true |
| Fireplace Y/N | true |
| Laundry Features | Dryer,Laundry Room,Washer |
| Total Bedrooms | 3 |
| Kitchen Features | Dishwasher,Electric Range/Cooktop,Refrigerator |
| Total Baths | 2 |
Exterior Features
| Exterior Amenities | Landscape Back |
|---|---|
| Parking Features | Carport |
| Lot Features | Other |
| Water Source | Public |
| Lot Size Area | 5718 |
| Building Area Total | 1904 |
| Lot Size Acres | 0.13 |
Amenities
- Foreclosure
- Views
- Short Sale
- New Construction
- Adult 55+
- Lease To Own
- No HOA Fees
- Furnished
- Primary On Main
- Air Conditioning
- Seller Finance
- Green
- Fixer Upper
- Horse
- Golf
- Fireplace
- Deck
- Garage
- Basement
- Pool
Property vs Single Family Average in 94707
Price
Year Built
Bay East ©2026. CCAR ©2026. bridgeMLS ©2026. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed. This information is being provided by the Bay East MLS, or CCAR MLS, or bridgeMLS. The listings presented here may or may not be listed by the Broker/Agent operating this website. This information is intended for the personal use of consumers and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated at September
This information, including square footage, while not guaranteed, has been acquired from sources believed to be reliable. Listings on this page identified as belonging to another listing firm are based upon data obtained from the SFAR MLS, which data is copyrighted by the San Francisco Association of REALTORS©, but is not warranted.
