The Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to designate the John Haley Studio House at 771 Ocean Ave. as a local historic landmark. The decision adds a landmark overlay to the Point Richmond property and places it on the Richmond Historic Register.
The house was built in 1932 by John Haley, a UC Berkeley professor and artist. Haley is credited with leading the “Berkeley School” of art, a style that used unique colors and spatial designs to move away from traditional East Coast movements. His wife, Monica Haley, was also an influential arts administrator for the Richmond Unified School District.
The building is an example of the Second Bay Tradition architectural style. While John Haley designed the original 1932 structure, a 1949 addition was designed by Roger Lee, a pioneering Chinese-American architect. The site served as a gathering place for other famous artists.
“People like Ansel Adams, Chiura Obata, Hans Hofmann, and Willem de Kooning all came to The Point and visited with the Haleys and did work here. Which makes this site particularly important,” said architectural historian Caitlyn Hibma.
Hibma represented the current owners, Joy Tahan Riddle and David Rudell, during Tuesday’s hearing.
While the landmark status protects the exterior of the building, it does not grant the city jurisdiction over the interior or require the owners to provide public tours.
The council approved the ordinance unanimously. A second reading and final vote are scheduled for the next City Council meeting on March 24.
