A Walk Through the University of California, Berkeley campus

A recent walk through a part of the historic core of the campus at UC Berkeley both confirmed my earlier thoughts about the campus cultural landscape, and the Landscape Heritage Plan (2004) thesis: the significance of the landscape does, indeed, define this campus located in the hills of Berkeley.

After reading the UC Berkeley Landscape Heritage Plan in Ann Arbor, it was a delight to cross the busy commercial Starbuck street corner to enter the campus (photo).

I spotted an eye catching piece of sculpture near the campus entrance which was an invitation and promised more interesting points ahead
(photo).

Joining the Monday morning foot traffic across the Strawberry Creek bridge (photo)

through the eucalyptus grove (photo)

toward the Campanile, I noted that it is clearly visible even on this overcast morning. The Campanile and the Esplanade with its arranged rows of London Plane trees clearly, are a central campus focal point (photos).

A tribute plaque to noted architect , John Galen Howard, for his many years of Beaux-Arts neoclassical design work, was embedded in stone at the foot of the tower (photo).

My route continued past multiple buildings representing various disciplines, eras and styles, past the dominant and stately main library (photo),

and across the Memorial Glade (photo)

where two students, books on the grass, found time for a game of Frisbee.
A memorial plaque for the renovated grove is located nearby (photo).

I wandered further through the elaborate Sather Gate (photo)

vowing to research this ornate and historic campus entrance, past a student union building where brave diners were drinking coffee in the sunshine despite the morning chill.

Tree plantings along the pedestrian walkway, Sather Road, (photo)

contribute to the pleasant atmosphere along this busy wide path. I noted the use of brick pavers throughout the various walkways, and abundance of benches for seating and meetings.

Easy transportation via BART, and the visual experience of this memorable campus landscape certainly made this an enjoyable excursion. I was able to identify many of the landmarks mentioned in the UC Berkeley Landscape Plan. Next year’s San Francisco trip may include to another area Getty grant cultural landscape plan site, Mills College, located in nearby Oakland.