Berkeley Hills in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Temple of Wings
Bernard Maybeck/A. Randolph Monroe, Architects; 1911
— Edna Deakin/Clarence Dakin, Architects; 1924 —
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 21, 2012
1. Temple of Wings Marker
Inscription.
Temple of Wings. Bernard Maybeck/A. Randolph Monroe, Architects; 1911.
City of Berkeley Landmarks designated in 1992. In one of Berkeley’s more eccentric experiments in living, Charles and Florence Boynton built their family residence as a version of a Greco-Roman temple with no walls. Two circular, open-air porches were ringed by 34 concrete Corinthian columns. Canvas shades were hung between the columns in bad weather. A curving roof formed the building’s “wings.” And a central open-terrace served as a stage where Mrs. Boynton, a girlhood friend of Isadora Duncan, taught generations of dance students., The Berkeley Fire of 1923 burned all but the columns and the home was rebuilt with more conventional rooms. It was remodeled again after the Boynton family sold it in 1994.
City of Berkeley Landmarks
designated in 1992
In one of Berkeley’s more eccentric experiments in living, Charles and Florence Boynton built their family residence as a version of a Greco-Roman temple with no walls. Two circular, open-air porches were ringed by 34 concrete Corinthian columns. Canvas shades were hung between the columns in bad weather. A curving roof formed the building’s “wings.” And a central open-terrace served as a stage where Mrs. Boynton, a girlhood friend of Isadora Duncan, taught generations of dance students.
The Berkeley Fire of 1923 burned all but the columns and the home was rebuilt with more conventional rooms. It was remodeled again after the Boynton family sold it in 1994.
Erected 2000 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1992.
Location. 37° 52.848′ N, 122° 15.382′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Berkeley Hills. Marker is on Buena Vista Way, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 Buena Vista Way, Berkeley CA 94708, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of
Also see . . . Temple of Wings - BAHA: Berkeley Landmarks. High on a Berkeley hillside stands an unusual structure. Called the Temple of Wings, it served as the home and dance studio of Florence Treadwell Boynton and, until the mid-1980s, for her daughter Sulgwynn and son-in-law Charles Quitzow. (Submitted on March 24, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 21, 2012
2. Temple of Wings Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,120 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
