Thorsen House

William R. Thorsen House

The William R. Thorsen House, also called the Sigma Phi-Thorsen House, is a special old home in Berkeley, California. It was built in 1909 for a man named William and his wife Caroline Thorsen. The house was designed by two brothers, Charles and Henry Greene, who were famous architects. It is one of five big houses they made, called "ultimate bungalows". Most bungalows are small, one-story houses, but these ones are larger and have special styles.

Since 1942, the Thorsen House has been used by the California Alpha Chapter of the Sigma Phi Society, one of the oldest student groups in the United States. The house is used by members for meetings, dinners, and small music events. People can also visit the house by knocking on the door, and each year thousands of visitors come to see it.

History

The Thorsen House is named after William Randolph Thorsen, a successful lumber merchant from Michigan. He and his wife, Caroline, lived in this beautiful home from 1909 until they passed away in 1942.

The Thorsen House shows American Craftsman style, part of the larger Arts and Crafts Movement. The architects, Greene & Greene, used bold wood designs. They chose special types of wood and colorful decorations to make the inside very beautiful. The entry hall has walls made of Burmese Teak, and the living and dining rooms have Honduras Mahogany with special square plugs. The fireplace has tiles in a lovely mauve color, and the windows have special glass designs by Emil Lange.