The Richmond Planning Commission recently recommended that the John Haley Studio and House at 771 Ocean Ave. be designated a local historic landmark. The proposal now moves to the Richmond City Council for a final vote.
For nearly 60 years, this Point Richmond property was the heartbeat of the Bay Area’s modern art scene. It served as the residence and workspace of John Haley, a renowned UC Berkeley professor and founder of the “Berkeley School” of art. Haley was famous for using gouache, a bold, opaque watercolor, to capture Richmond’s industrial and coastal soul.
The architecture itself is a rare “double” example of the Second Bay Tradition, a style that fuses modern design with the California landscape. Haley built the original 1932 studio himself using rustic hollow clay tile, angling the structure perfectly to catch northern studio sunlight. In 1949, the home was expanded by pioneering Chinese-American architect Roger Lee, who designed a living room that doubled as a high-end art gallery, complete with a massive “gallery wall” and built-in seating for artistic salons.
The home was a magnet for legendary figures. Between 1958 and 1960, Haley studied photography there under the iconic Ansel Adams. Even the backyard holds a piece of living history: a mature Japanese Black Pine on the patio was once a small bonsai belonging to artist Chiura Obata. When Obata and his family were forced into internment camps during World War II, the Haleys saved the tree and replanted it to ensure its survival.
Current owners Joy Tahan Ruddell and David Ruddell requested the landmark status to safeguard the property’s legacy. If approved by the City Council, the home will be added to the Richmond Historic Register, granting it permanent legal protection under state law. This ensures that the building’s unique character, from its hillside integration to its interior gallery features, is preserved for future generations, preventing demolition or significant alterations.
Historic and current images of the site follow. See more here.
