Berkeley Fish House

A mere five minutes away from Cafe Fanny was another stop on our roster of things to see, do, and eat. On a normal nondescript street is a house that I'd been dying to see. This unusual house was also featured in the Roadside America site and the book Weird California which of course made me want to see it even more.

Behold, the Berkeley Fish House, as it is popularly known! The shape is really not a "fish" but a "Tardigrade", which is an eight-legged, microscopic segmented water dwelling creature. This house was built by architect Eugene Tsui for his parents. There are ramps within and all the materials are ecologically sound and built to withstand high winds, rain, and fire. Can you imagine living next door?

Info below from the Tsui Design Research Inc website:

"This structure is based upon the world's most indestructable living creature--the Tardigrade, with its oval plan and parabolic top it utilizes the same structural principles nature employs in creating an astoundingly durable design..."

I'm sure the neighbors are tired of looky loos (like us), standing in the middle of the street taking pictures of the house.

"There they go again, damn tourists!"

In our case, we each took a shot with the house as background, but we probably should have done a timer with all three of us. Then, it could have been one of our Xmas card pix! No neighbors were out in the street when we were there. I wonder if the owners were even home? I can't believe some people would even have the nerve to knock on their door. It's not like some sort of museum or anything.

It's so random. Every house on that street is pretty normal, then you get to THAT one!

(gotta suck it in!)

Who else saw the Fish House?

Here's a post from the blog Unusual Life as well as a photographer that popped up when I did the google search, Joe Riefer, and of course, the entry from Roadside America.

More info on the architect from an SFGate article, Eugene Tsui: Eco-Conscious and Outrageous
and the East Bay Express Eugene Tsui Says It's Time for Thinking Big

If you want to know all the specifications and even see photos of the making of this house, check out the architect's site himself:
Tsui Design - The Tsui House

The Berkeley Fish House (residence of Florence and William Tsui, parents of the architect)
2747 Mathews Street
Berkeley, CA

Worth the small detour if you're ever in the area!