Young architect's Fairy-Tale home inspired by Nature's spirals: awe inside 🐚
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- Опубліковано 2 гру 2023
- The Bloomhouse seems to erupt or grow from the ground, leaving no straight lines. It was actually hand-sculpted over the course of a decade into a piece of residential art. It resembles a fantastic animal (a dog, rabbit, deer, duck, dragon) or even a mushroom but looks very little like a conventional house.
Architect Charles Harker began work in the early ‘70s using nature as inspiration and no blueprints or formal plans (the only permit required in unincorporated Travis County, Texas was for septic). His first step was to create the basic shape of the home in steel rebar which was coated in layers of polyurethane foam. Harker spent 9 months on site hand-sculpting the foam into intricate designs. The home was finished with layers of concrete stucco.
The interior has been described as “falling down the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland-mesmerizing and psychedelic” and having the snug quality of a Hobbit tea party. Each room flows into the next and it’s hard to stay oriented with the multiple levels and endless shapes. The bedroom is an oversized conch shell that Harker hoped with replicate the acoustics of the ocean. The only door in the home is on the bathroom though even this room drifts outside with an exterior shower.
There are cubby holes and nooks everywhere, some are closets, And there is no elaborate system of tubes and orifices that make up a natural airflow for heating and cooling. Even the spiral staircase leading to the upstairs nook bedroom is part of the Venturi effect for natural air-conditioning.
Dalton Bloom, the original owner, never actually lived in the home, but when Dave Klaunch bought it in 2017 it was inhabited, but the pipes had calcified and there were problems with mold. Klaus immediately began restoring the home giving careful attention to all the minutiae, like the Cherry wood “ribs” that accentuate the curves and gave us the impression of being inside a whale's belly.
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I had Charles Harker as an architecture professor at Kent State. He was a mystic and beautifully sentimental about architecture. Great professor and super humble. He never mentioned this house in his studio ever. We only found out as an urban legend through other students.
How lucky for you. I would've loved to hear him speak of architecture and design.
That makes so much sense that he was a mystic. The whole time I kept thinking, "This guy was on mushrooms when he built this house." But being a mystic explains it. And also maybe a little bit of mushrooms
It is beautiful, artful and a perfect concept to render his vision I am in aw of this design.
wow that's an amazing story. i used to live in Taos NM and there are a lot. of homes with this inspiration. I have to look up Charles and learn more about him!
It looks like melted ice cream.
The guy who bought and currently maintains the house is a gem. It's uncommon pieces of art like this are so lovingly maintained
Yes so glad he is the caretaker and has brought it back to life
He clearly was the rightful heir to the house
My thoughts as well.
The man who built this home wasn't an architect/builder, he was an artist/visionary. Just incredible. And I really loved how looked in the evening.
An architect should always be an artist first and foremost.
@@MealTeam6 Indeed. Maybe then we'd stop having these energy-wasting, glass and steel monstrosities
@@jackolantern7342 some of them are beautiful, some of them are rehashed post modernist vomit without an ounce of inspiration, but the form factor definitely doesn’t lend itself in the category of wasting energy. Quite the contrary actually.
@@jackolantern7342 …unless they’re built at a time and in a place where they’re unnecessary. Mismanagement can also be an issue. We are definitely also wasting a lot of resources right now trying to maintain empty buildings with so many working from home and mismanaged economy.
Really lovely like a canvas painting
I love it when people follow through on their crazy dream, and commit to it. Huge respect to Dave as well for so lovingly bringing it back to life.
Big admiration for Dave who clearly has the same love for this “house” as the man who designed & built it. Was very sad to glimpse the photos of what the former occupants had let happen to this beautiful & exceptional place. What it looks like now is testimony to Dave’s own talent & caring for this structure.👌😊
I totally agree!
The new owner is a delight! I loved how he interacted with the kids. The house…just glorious. The intelligence of the architect is astounding.
Simply extraordinary. This creation immediately ranks among my favourites on the channel!
Kudos to Dave Klaunch for the intelligent and sensitive way he has maintained and preserved the building, making only the subtlest and most inconspicuous of adjustments. This shows great humility and is the true definition of custodianship rather than ownership.
Yes, he was the perfect one to buy this work of art. He did a fine job.
Custodian is the perfect title for him. The embodiment of respect for the time, effort, and dedication of all those craftspeople who poured their time and skills into helping to translate plans into reality. Reminds me very much of the Gaudi architecture in Barcelona. Beautifully organic and otherworldly. I think a Hobbit would be quite at home here…or an Elf 😊 The fact that folks could contemplate tearing it down…Lordy, that doesn’t reflect well on us as a species 😢
Thank you for this. Wonderful.
And the way he has enthusiastically collected, retained, and shares all the information and stories of its past. Qudos indeed
#1 for me
Dave's renovation was not only considerate but added improvements that kept to the spirit of the original design. In a sense this creation is a living work of art.
You knocked it outta the park with this one, Kirsten! Great work filming this unique structure and capturing the genius elements that make this quirky design work so well. Kinda pisses me off, though, I was in Austin while this was being constructed, running with the alternative building crowd but never heard about this gem. I, too, was a huge Roger Dean fan (still have the coffee table book of his designs) and always wanted to see a real house incorporating all those elements...and here it is! Thanks again, Kirsten, really appreciate you sharing these creative homes, gives me hope for the human race, somehow.
Wonderful find, Kisten!!! And I'm so pleased that that this masterpiece has found its right and proper steward, what a beautifully done restoration! Just gorgeous, hope he checks these comments!! BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, THEN, and..NOW!! ❤❤❤
This is such an enjoyable episode! Thank you! I'm so grateful that with all the renovation projects needed, this man maintained integrity.
Yes, it was a real labor of love. Most others looking to buy the property wanted to tear it down.
@@kirstendirksenI saw a silly waste of money in the first few minutes and soon found out I was wrong. He really has a gem of a home there.
I'm in Pinellas county Florida and there was a hurricane proof restaurant right on the beach called The Penquin that had sat vacant for years until the city bought it and tore it down. We now have a great Pavillion and public park there. It had resembled a submarine with porthole windows. After seeing a few of your features, someone could have renovated the old penguin into a really special and unique home. Google the penguin on treasure island, there is a few vintage photos of it. It was built in the early 70's when I was about 7 years. Old.
Love your channel!! ❤ Cheers!!
@@kirstendirksen Tear it down - oh no . I have watched many of your videos and i have to say this is one of my favourite houses . I reminds me of being in the cochlear structures of the inner and middle ear .
@@kirstendirksen I'm so thankful that they didn't sell to one of those people. Dave was perfect and had a connection to this property before it was for sale. Charles and every person who invested their labor of love is grateful for future caretakers like Dave.
Wonderful story!
I dunno why, but homes that aren't just boring cubes and straight lines are _so_ immensely appealing to me. I just look at this and think "I want to live there - it looks so much more natural". He says it doesn't feel like a cave, but I think it actually does. Well, either a small-ish cave system or maybe a combo of that and what the inside of a house carved inside a living tree would look and feel like. I love all the different levels and the fact that you get such unique eye lines into other spaces whilst still somehow managing to make each area feel cozy and private. I wish we hadn't gone down the route of every house being identical and forcing compliance via all these restrictive rules and regulations. Or if they are to be identical, make them more unusual looking and interesting, not just boring squares all the time.
I love this! ❤❤❤ Not possible in Belgium because of all the restrictions. Thank you, Kirsten for showing it to the whole world.
Thank you for writing. I love finding these homes that seem to leap all boundaries. A real pleasure to explore.
A wonderful tour of a sculptural house. The new owner is the perfect person to restore and keep the original vision alive.
I think the inside of the house is more interesting than the outside. I wouldn't mind an inconspicuous, regular rectangular house (in a city) that looks this wildly organic when you set foot inside.
Also: really nice, respectful interaction between the owner and your daughter in the end. He seems to have a way to connect with young people. And she seems to start to take an interest. Perhaps in just a few years she can do the interviews for these videos ;-)
I’m so glad this gentleman saved this amazing building! Bravo.
I'm not a big fan of owners explaining their homes, they tend to bore me, but I must say that this man is really very entertaining to listen to, he's really nice and interesting.
Talking about a homeowner willing to save a building from its demise.
He really is passionate about the home, and it seems the only one willing to protect it from being torn down (it was for sale for awhile).
@@kirstendirksen That's a fascinating aspect thank you, I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in the video
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing example of artistry in architecture. It is one of the most unique buildings I have seen in all my years and as a wood worker,,,I am blown away❣️
Thank you for this incredible tour!
(I'm regular viewer of your channel)
Initially, I wasn't keen on spending 36 minutes on a quirky house, but by the end of the video, it felt like I had embarked on an artistic journey that truly amazed me. The shooting and editing were phenomenal, and that kept me engaging first 3 to 5 minutes. And i went all till the end.
Special thanks to Architect Charles Harker for creating such a wonderful piece of art and showcasing the immense hard work he put into it. Also, kudos to Dave for his effort in understanding Charles's perspective and journey while describing all the intricate details. It's not easy for everyone to comprehend the artist, their art, and the dedication behind it all.
The conversation between the kids and Dave was a delightful touch! 🦄🌈💙
That truly is an enchanted place. I also loved how personal it becomes when you visit with your kids. A very different perspective from the usual, neutral home tours. I love your work!
It’s so heartwarming that you are able to record this for history and to get first hand information on how Charles built this beautiful house. Absolutely stunning. Thanks 🙏🏾
This is awesome! Listening to the story behind it causes me to think it looks like a living thing. The bone structure highlighted with the brown going up the curve of the building. The as you described nostril for the AC vent. I really love this. Thanks for sharing.
I assume the two girls are going about the business of growing up, and your boy is with you on this adventure. The children do add a great element to your work. You and your spouse and children are great examples of a modern functional family living a unique life. Bravo for your longevity.
it is fun watching them grow up and as a family Traveling the world showing us these great places, So fun, Blessings for you and yours always❤
That young man is going to remember the stay in that house for the rest of his life.
I love this house/sculpture so much! My first reaction to the inside was of being swallowed by a giant creature. For sure, living in all that type of art space would have saved me many years of emotional suffering. It was a craving so deep as to make me choose living outdoors. I am so glad this beautiful place was saved from decay. Thank you.
Like this home of uniqueness, your family and the worldwide experiences has got to be a fantastic art form. I have enjoyed your channel through the years.
I love this and would love to live in something similar! It is so thoughtfully constructed! Bravo!
disney doesn't own the copyright to snow white. it is a grim's brothers fairy tale way older then disney itself.
WOWZA. I was certain this was a modern cob-sculpted house when I first saw it. That it's sculpted foam and concrete explodes my brain. It should be preserved in perpetuity for the masterpiece that it is. Thank you for this very thorough tour and history!
What an amazing work of art! It feels alive. Bless this man for preserving it.
definitely not just a home, it’s a beautiful piece of art.
It is! I can't even imagine asking why there isn't art hung inside it. It continually reminded me of a nautilus. So lovely!
So organic! Looks like it’s alive. Love it!
This man is absolutely the perfect owner for this home. It's awesome to see his passion for all the tiniest details. That closing dialog between the owner and your daughter was magical. His sentiments almost brought a tear to my eye.
Fantastical structure ! Love it ! The cherrywood is perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Like it if they planted another tree . Maybe a lemon?
I always like how you edit your videos, but the ending of this one I specially loved! Such a sweet dialogue, and this man seems so nice... Good to know that this incredible house is being taken care by someone like him!
One of the most unique and stunning homes on this channel. Love to see a house with curves!
I love the energy of the house, well rounded, no aggressive corner....so reconforting , it also remind me of a boat, the sea, it's a clever construction/structure who invites you to let your imagination flow. I feel like a child seeing that "castle"😇😂🙏, thank you.
Mesmerising, thank you for this! He has so much to say about every detail that it seems like the house embodies a well thought through philosophy of good living. Theory in the flesh so to speak. It also reminds me of some ancient whitewashed houses on a greek island (without cars). Built on a steep hillside they were extended from generation to generation, another room added here and there, often with small irregular steps leading from room to room. Those houses seem alive, as if they naturally evolved from the hillside. One just has to fall in love with them. And they seem to have not just character, but a soul (more so, than the stately captains houses, built by architects from Athens). You should try to capture a few houses there, and their owners. :)
I was thinking the same thing - I had the opportunity to visit Mykonos in Greece last yr and we spent a week in a house that reminded me so much of this structure .
Awesome home. I just want to say that I appreciate that when the kids asked a question he answered and didn't act like they were a bother.
A treat for the eyes. Looks like influences from Gaudy and the meringue from the top of a pie.
One of the most creatively cool & beautiful homes I’ve ever seen. Just in awe. 🙏🏼❤️🤙🏼
What an amazing place,it does not look that big outside!but it’s very spacious inside.I love all the curves and twists,it’s so much nicer than flat walls and corners.I think it was well thought out and beautifully designed,i would love to live in so where like this .
Fascinating video and a new hero Mr. Harper. Thankyou for saving this fantastic home and tributing it’s creator.
This is my favourite home, so far. I would love to live in something so organic. Thanks for sharing xx
A thought machine in the middle of madness, and you can live in it! Blessings be well 🕊️
What a fantastic and fantastical home! The architect was truly a visionary!
I love everything about this video:
the footage, you guys spending the night there, all the little details from the house, the accent of the guy, all the knowdlege that he has absorbed...
amazing!
Thank you Mr. Klaunch.
You are a hero of artistic preservation.
With great care, you have restored function without losing the artists vision.
Not many would put so much thought into the preservation and repair of someone else's fading dream.
You are not just an admirer, a restorer, but an artist in your own right.
Marvelous job Sir.
Bravo!
This type of atchitecture is really fascinating. It will be nice to be able to built houses like that in any city. What a treasure to also be able to have all the architect drawings.
Beautiful Architecture ❤
I loved watching it every second of it . Noone, can imagine how beautiful it is from inside just like a fairytale.
Thanks for this video.❤
What an amazing house! It`s Dr Seuss meets Fallingwater...
I absolutely love 💕 this house. I can't think of another house I would want to live in more. Love it so much ❤❤
This has to be one of my favorite homes ever. At 75, I've seen, owned, and built many homes and structures... This one is most definitely in my top Three. Wow! Thank you for showing this masterpiece to us all. Cathleen
Wonderful Artcutictral mind.....
I personally love it.......❤
The inside is a type of peacefull charm.......The stairs , floors , rails ,the kitchen. "Ecape real world norms and blues.......🤗
I want one!!! This doesn't confuse my brain at all but then I'm 61 and I grew up on Disney. My mother used to read us the fairy-tale books and I loved the pictures. I wanted to be transported into those worlds.
I also had tons of insane nightmares growing up. I drove my mother crazy because she didn't know how to help me but they molded my brain even more to accept the strange and wonderfully odd things in this world. I'm very open to mystical and spiritual things as well. I love it all! I wouldn't change anything I've experienced, even the most scary.
This is beautiful!! Absolutely brilliant in the design! Just incredible!!
❤❤❤❤
The outside video in the snow was a nice winter scene. I could sit out on a snowy night and look back at the house. However, the inside is unbelievable, I love it, my brain is eating it up. I would absolutely, touch each and every curve, walk into every room, it's just nuts, I love it.
What an incredible structure! Truly magical. I love how the kids reacted to it! I have watch a fair number of your videos and this house is by far the most beautiful and mesmerizing one!
Phenomenal peace of art. Thank you for sharing.
Wow what a great adventure. Thank you for sharing this beautiful home.
Stunning, unbelievable and beautiful. Espescially all the curved wood inside. This is a house you would feel well inn.
Maybe we’ll start to see more curved buildings with 3D printing
Wow those sketches are awesome. Some day they will be worth some money.
That last angle, the structure looked like a sphinx to me. Definitely unique.
what an architect this house is my dream.Perfection of organique structure in an amazing forest.Jewel keep it and thank you for showing this house.so lovely.🥰😍😇
Kirsten I have enjoyed your channel for so long now, this is by far, one of half a dozen favorites😄❤️
What an amazing house! Some of the joy is seeing the young man’s imagination and excited discovery of the nooks and crannies. It’s truly a fairytale home.
watching this i realize how wonderful it will be to see what y'alls children choose as a lifestyle as they become adults, they've had the joy of being exposed to so much, it's truly wonderful.
This looks almost like a Javier Senosiain house. Google the Nautilus house (my favourite) or the Shark house. He has an entire eco village in Mexico that's just brilliant you might want to look into. One of my favourite architects.
Also similar to the Azulik (also in Mexico) properties, which were at the top of my list before they became inundated by IG influencers. Im positive you've heard of those but would still be a FANTASTIC interview to talk to the founder. It's a great story as well. ❤
thanks for these suggestions- I will look them up .
Magical, enchanting and other worldly……..
I’ll definitely be watching this one till the end……
And the evening walk up for your children never to be forgotten……
And it’s a Dragon a Earth Dragon taking care of those who reside within…….
Lucky Earthlings…………….
:) :) :)
It is so beautiful ....I wish we would have the possibilty to built stuctures like that in cities .....
Before all those other versions I think Roger Dean was there first. He was the artist most familiar with the album covers of YES - the progressive rock group of the 1970's. He also designed a house way back then vey much like this one.
Yes, that was my first thought when I saw it!
It is so magical. Impressive design.
Fascinante, genial, una exquisitez, una mente brillante ✨️🌱🐿🌿💚
Good design is a marriage between beauty and function.
WOW just WOW, my engineer brain can't wrap my head around this artistry, my brain could never even come close to even imaging this. 10 / 10 would live in this
I didn’t think I would love this house when I saw the outside - omg what a beautiful surprise !!!
Seven Sentinels...? Seven Dwarves...? Buddy, them there is the seven giant magic mushrooms that architect ingested just prior to coming up with that design....!
The inside is awesome!!!! 💖
This is the most beautiful piece of functional art I have ever seen! I hope to see it someday in person.
Beautiful house, beautiful renovation, and beautiful video that really captures the space perfectly. Love it!
I loved the comment about the emotional impact that the housing design deposits into individuals inhabiting the space.
This wonderful structure is exactly why permits need to be extinct. Putting others into a box is not okay. Allow creativity to flow! Beautifully done! Thank you for sharing. 🥰
My goodness… what a BEAUTIFUL Space!! I would totally stay here!! Just the curved stairs and gorgeous hand rails! That fireplace! This just makes me think of childhood dreamscapes. I am not a fan of square houses. The floor is fabulous!
This is my favorite house ever that Ive seen. And ive watched...probably thousands of house tours and dozens of "unique" house tours. This is by far my favorite
Thanks for your work. Your channel is amazing and the research you do to find such interesting people and homes is breathtaking. Well done! I love this channel;)
Most inspiring home I've seen yet! Thank you!
Organic minimalism is my thing. Please do more of these.
astonishing design and wonderful people who created and preserve this unique creation.
This is an incredible work of art! Thanks so much for sharing!
It really resonated with me that they don't need to hang artwork when they are living inside an artwork.
Awesome house and thankfully a perfect caretaker.
Oh my goodness this was an amazing video! The inside of that house was so freaking cool!
❤❤❤❤❤❤ ART ❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for showing us this beautiful house
I love how he claim his spot and I felt like known you guys forever. 😊😊 Nothing to ask. Thanks for the videos your videos give me focus and calm in all my noises.
I’m glad you bought it with the intention of preserving it.
Wow! What a concept, such imagination & artistry. Bravo!
I’m usually critical of crazy ideas but this seems very appealing.
Orgànic architecture. I always love It.
OMG! I LOVE THIS PLACE. SO FUN TO LIVE IN!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Amazing house. The lanterns on the path to the front door remind me foxgloves, bluebells or stylised toadstools.....🥰🇬🇧
Talk about an acid trip made reality! :D