A notable mid-century modern residence in Berkeley, California, designed by architect Donald Olsen, has been listed for sale at $1.425 million. The Kip House at 775 San Diego Road, a three-bedroom, two-bath home built in 1954, is only on the market for the second time in its nearly 75-year history. The property lies adjacent to John Hinkel Park and reflects the Bauhaus-inspired International Style that Olsen, influenced by his studies with Walter Gropius, integrated into his early architectural work.

Commissioned by Arthur Frederic Kip, a pioneering physicist known for foundational contributions to solid-state physics and early technology used in computers and smartphones, the home's design showcases Olsen’s exploration of modernist architectural principles. Upon completing the Kip House, Olsen and his wife, Helen, constructed their own residence next door, maintaining a similar design language. Both families remained neighbors in the area for decades.

The residence covers approximately 1,904 square feet across three levels and features an innovative split-level layout without hallways. Architectural historian Pierluigi Serraino, author of a monograph on Olsen, noted the house’s efficient use of space and its adaptation to a challenging sloped site with minimal earth displacement. The main floor includes an upper living and study area, while the lower level contains the entrance, kitchen, dining room, and utility spaces. The primary and third bedrooms occupy the lowest level.

Recognized in Arts & Architecture magazine shortly after its completion, the Kip House is distinguished by its cantilevered balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows beneath. The balcony’s underside is painted a bright crimson—a distinctive nod to modernist architect Le Corbusier—which has earned it the local nickname "the red balcony." Joan Kip, the original owner’s wife, captured the home's atmosphere in a personal essay reflecting on family life and views from the balcony.

Susie Injijan, the current owner and a lawyer from the San Francisco Bay Area, acquired the home in 2013 from the Kip estate. She has overseen preservation efforts including restoration of the balcony, structural repairs such as rebuilding the front steps and carport, and seismic retrofitting. Injijan also removed asbestos-containing linoleum flooring, replacing it with wood, and renovated the lower-level bathroom, reinterpreting it with Bauhaus elements while respecting the original design ethos.

While Injijan expresses reluctance about selling the home, citing its unique combination of architectural rigor and integration with nature, she notes that maintaining the nearly 2,000-square-foot property has become less manageable as her children have grown. The Kip House now awaits its next owner to continue its legacy as both an architectural landmark and a carefully preserved residence.