Beverley David Thorne (July 9, 1924 – December 6, 2017) was an architect, noted for his modernist designs, and use of heavy steel framework. His most famous work is probably Heartwood House (aka Brubeck West).
Thorne was born July 9, 1924, to William P. Thorne and Vivian E. Shepherd (Thorne). The family lived in Piedmont, but Beverley has a younger sister named Oakland, Oakland Linda Thorne, as well as another sister Vivian Durace Thorne who died in 1985. He trained as a fighter pilot during WWII.
1957 3
Beverley studied architecture at UC Berkeley after the war, graduating in 1950. 1 After designing the home for Dave Brubeck and inclusion in Arts & Architecture magazine for 'Case Study House No. 26' catapulted him to fame, Thorne intentionally dropped out of sight in the mid-1960s. He switched from using the name David back to his given name Beverley, and eventually moved to Hawai'i.
Thorne also designed:
- Millennium House
- 23 Sequoyah View Drive - 1957 (a helicopter landed on the roof as a publicity stunt)
- 15835 Skyline Boulevard (possibly): 1957 - The Rock Logan House, Oakland CA
- 6624 Saroni Drive (not far from Heartwood House), built c.1959 (listed in 2014 real estate flyer)
- Case Study House #26 - 1962, San Rafael, CA
Thorne died December 6, 2017, in Sonoma, from pneumonia. 2
Links and References
- SIGNATURE STYLE: Beverley D. Thorne SFGate.com November 4, 2006
- Oakland Home Roof Helipad on YouTube
- Beverley D Thorne: Pioneering Modernist Architect and ‘Man of Steel’ Docomomo US/Northern California 2025
- Last Case Study architect, Beverley Thorne, passes away Curbed.com December 11, 2017
- 'Sequoyah House' Features New Architectural Approach Oakland Tribune July 7, 1957
