Howard Automobile Company
Frederick Reimers, Architect, 1930, Hayashida Architects, 2006
City of Berkeley Landmark
designated in 1983
This Zig-Zag Moderne building, designed for the sale and servicing of Buick automobiles, captures the glamour, rising affluence, and sophistication of the post-World War I era. Charles Howard, who rose to prosperity through his successful Bay Area auto dealerships, also owned the famed racehorse Seabiscuit.
Architect Frederick Reimers designed many Period Revival houses, as well as schools and other commercial buildings in the Moderne style. Five unequal show-window bays are framed by fluted pilasters of reinforced concrete rising to scrolled, fountain-like capitals. Metal grills, scroll, and doors in Art Deco-relief patterns further embellish the building.
Marker is at the intersection of Durant Avenue and Fulton Street, on the right when traveling east on Durant Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
