Temple of Wings, Berkeley

The Temple of Wings is a historic Greco-Roman-style estate situated on Buena Vista Way in the La Loma Park neighborhood of Berkeley. Renowned for its unique architectural design and cultural significance, the property has been a Berkeley Landmark since January 6, 1992, and is also listed in the California State Historic Resources Inventory. Over the years, it has been known by various names, including the Temple of Winds, Boynton House, and Charles C. Boynton House.

The estate, commissioned by Charles and Florence Treadwell Boynton, was designed by Bernard Maybeck in 1911 as an open-air Greco-Roman-style home with canvas walls. Completed by Arthur Randolph Monro in 1914, it combined architectural elegance with artistic purpose. After a 1923 fire, Clarence and Edna Deakin remodeled it in 1924, enclosing the colonnade and adding a two-level home with dance studios, maintaining its artistic legacy.

Florence Treadwell Boynton, a proponent of "open-air motherhood" and a pioneer in rhythmic gymnastics, designed the home to reflect her admiration for Isadora Duncan and Duncan’s philosophies of dance and movement. The estate became a hub for modern dance and education, embodying the ideals of natural expression and freedom. The Boynton family, later associated with the Quitzow and Braun families, maintained ownership of the property for four generations.

In 1994, the estate was purchased by billionaire philanthropist Gordon Getty and his wife Ann Getty. The couple refurbished the Temple of Wings with antique British and American Arts and Crafts movement furniture and adorned it with Pre-Raphaelite paintings, blending the historic charm with exquisite artistic taste.

Today, the Temple of Wings stands as a testament to its rich history, architectural innovation, and enduring connection to the arts. From its open-air beginnings to its evolution as a cherished landmark, it continues to inspire as a symbol of Berkeley's cultural and architectural heritage.