Cultural Landscapes

Geological map of a portion of the Berkeley Hills (Andrew Lawson and Charles Palache, 1900. BAHA Archives)

Strawberry Canyon—Opposite the Golden Gate

A program sponsored by the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association & the American Society of Landscape Architects, Northern California Chapter.

Two summer evenings with
Charles Birnbaum FASLA, FAAR
President, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, Washington, D.C.

An Ice Cream Social and Lecture
Town & Gown Club (Bernard Maybeck, 1899)
2401 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Starting at 7:30 pm; lecture at 8 pm
$20

Charles Birnbaum, noted leader in establishing the American discipline of cultural landscapes, will present a framework for his visit to Berkeley and for providing technical assistance regarding Strawberry Canyon and its potential significance as a cultural landscape on a local, state, and/or national level.

Recognized in 1865 by Frederick Law Olmsted, Strawberry Canyon is the headlands of Strawberry Creek, a primary water resource giving birth to the University of California. The canyon has continuously remained a natural hillside vista representative of the Coastal Range, providing ongoing cultural benefit to the University, the city, and the greater region.

The lecture will address the challenging issues in the design, treatment, and management of cultural landscapes that are rich in natural, scenic, and cultural values. Mr. Birnbaum’s illustrated presentation will raise questions about how one defines a holistic stewardship ethic when balancing these myriad resource values.

Four Rambles, with Guides
into, through, and above Strawberry Canyon
Friday, 10 August 2007
Starting at 5:30 pm
Panoramic Hill, led by Gray Brechin (sold out)
Panoramic Hill (recently listed, as a residential neighborhood, in the National Register of Historic Places) is the southern slope of Strawberry Canyon. Its natural setting and architectural development reflect the cultural aesthetic of those who lived in Berkeley after the turn-of-the-century and aspired to “build with nature.” $10
University Botanical Gardens, led by Ellen Petersen
Occupying an area of some 25 acres, the gardens were established in Strawberry Canyon in 1928 on an open site previously occupied by dairy ranches. Defined by a mild climate, they rank with the world’s leading gardens in number of different plants, arranged according to their geographical origin and including a large area devoted to California native plants. $10
Strawberry Creek—Its Sources, led by Robin Freeman
The South Fork of Strawberry Creek, originating from underground sources and streamlets, flows out of Strawberry Canyon toward the Bay. Behind Memorial Stadium, off Centennial Drive, the walk through the canyon reveals some of the open creek resources and shows evidence of the many changes that have occurred to the natural environment over time. $10
Monument Hill Vista, led by Michael Kelly
The surrounding ridges of Strawberry Canyon offer views into the entire canyon as well as beyond out to the Golden Gate. The southern ridge offers a story of the nearly 200 years of impact to the canyon since the settlement of the Spanish, early 19th century farms, the University, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, respectively, and its survival as a wild area in the midst of urban growth. $10

A Farmers’ Market Barbeque
Haas Club House (Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons, 1959)
Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area
Friday, 10 August 2007
Starting at 7 pm
$30

All three events (choose one ramble) $50.
To reserve tickets, print and mail this form.