While much attention is being paid to a beautifully restored Victorian that is up for sale for $2,500,000 over in north Berkeley, another grand home has quietly come on the market in a more elevated part of town — specifically in those hybrid 94705 hills where Berkeley zipcode meets Oakland taxes.
The asking price for the 8,500 sq ft home at 4975 Grizzly Peak Blvd is also elevated, at a not insubstantial $9,500,000. While this house is the absolute architectural antithesis of the 1889 house on Albina Avenue in that it is strikingly modern, both display an opulence and desire to showcase the finer things in life.
The sleekly contemporary, three-level home, which has six bedrooms, was designed by Robert Swatt of Swatt-Miers Architects in 2009. Perched at one of the city’s highest points, it offers commanding views of the bay via dramatic a series of cantilevered terraces and disappearing walls of glass.
The interiors blend limestone, mahogany and kaya wood accented by sculptures from the owner’s native India, as well as a number of striking paintings by his daughter, Namita Kapoor.
Last month, the home was featured on the American Institute of Architects’ inaugural East Bay Home Tour — a faultless way to prepare the ground for a listing. Viewing is by appointment only and details on the house can be found on Sotheby’s International Realty website.
