In the early 1970s, two friends in Austin, Texas decided to do something bold. Dalton Bloom wanted to create an extraordinary place that would last forever. Charles Harker wanted to design something unique. Together, they created the Bloomhouse, the most unusual home in the world. Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1984, with an award of merit from the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects that same year.
The saying “Keep Austin Weird” is almost an understatement for this organically-shaped work of architecture
Built in the hills of West Austin, the Bloomhouse represents the symbiotic interaction of man and nature. Its organic shape, rising from the earth, mimics the flow of the air, the curve of the wind, and the gentle rise and fall of nature’s melody. Harker’s curvilinear designs are simultaneously familiar and fantastic.
The Bloomhouse represents the symbiotic interaction of man and nature
Bloom and Harker constructed the Bloomhouse with unusual methods and materials starting with basic shapes formed with steel rebar, coated in layers of polyurethane foam, sculpted with a hand-held pruning saw over a seven-month period, and finished with layers of concrete stucco both inside and out. The result is a structure that is remarkably well-insulated and eco-friendly.
The interior features cherry wood accents, shelves, and cabinetry carved in situ to complement and enhance the natural shapes. The ceilings are covered with sound-absorbing, recycled natural fibers. Handmade concrete and ceramic tiles resembling end-cut cedar disks cover the floors inside and out.
The interior features cherry wood accents, shelves, and cabinetry carved in situ to complement and enhance the natural shapes
