Donald and Helen Olsen House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Donald and Helen Olsen House
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 771 San Diego Road, Berkeley, California |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architect | Donald Olsen |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000812 |
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 2010 |
The Donald and Helen Olsen House is a special home located in Berkeley, California. It was built in 1954.
This house was designed by an architect named Donald Olsen. He created it in a style called International Style, which is a type of modern architecture. Donald Olsen was born in Minnesota and studied with a famous architect named Walter Gropius at Harvard University. He started his own architecture business in Berkeley in 1953.
What Makes This House Special?
The Donald and Helen Olsen House is built on a hill in the North Berkeley Hills, close to John Hinkel Park. The main part of the house was built higher up. This was done to get the best views of the amazing San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the years, some trees have grown taller and now block part of the view.
The International Style
The house is a great example of the International Style. This style became popular in Europe thanks to architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, and Le Corbusier. Homes in this style often have clean lines, simple shapes, and a very modern look. They focus on function and open spaces. The Olsen House shows these ideas very well.
The house also has a cool mural inside, created by the artist Claire Falkenstein.
A Historic Home
The Donald and Helen Olsen House is considered an important building. On October 1, 2010, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's officially recognized as a place that is important to American history or architecture. The National Park Service, which manages this list, called Donald Olsen "an important mid-20th-century Bay Area architect."
