Welcome to the Bloomhouse! This unique home in the hills west of Austin served as the graduate degree thesis statement for architect Charles Harker while studying at the University of Texas in the early 1970’s. Charles and his client, Dalton Bloom, sought to build a structure unlike anything else in the world. The home is a study in organic, curvilinear architecture that seeks to find a symbiotic balance between humanity and nature.
The Bloomhouse forever flows and undulates in harmony with both its surroundings and its inhabitants. Hand-built by Harker and other craftsmen over a period of 11 years, the house is built from steel rebar, polyurethane foam, and cement stucco with cherry wood accents throughout. The Bloomhouse is as much a work of art as it is a domicile.
Over its 30+ years, the Bloomhouse has had a rich and fascinating history. After falling into a state of disrepair, it was purchased by Dave and Susan Claunch three years ago and restored to its former glory with modern systems and appliances.
Join us to learn more about the Bloomhouse's colorful history and what it took to build, restore, and maintain this truly unique home.
On Zoom!
Homeowner and tour presenter, Dave Claunch, is an Austin-area entrepreneur working in the creative industry. For more than thirty years, Dave has built and nurtured prosperous relationships within and between the creative and business worlds. He first heard about the Bloomhouse in 2008 and although he never actually saw it until years later, he was instantly enchanted by its unique form and amazing history. When the building came on the market in 2017, he and his wife Susan jumped at the chance to become a part of that history.
Our partners at Weird Homes Tour offer a series of virtual and physical tours that allow you to visit the inside of homes, and meet collectors of oddities, rare art collectors, performance artists, painters, sculptors and architects in cities all across the USA. As you browse their 100+ homes you will see that they reject cookie cutter design and architecture and embrace the wonderfulness of weird. Check out their instagram for more amazing photos and stories.
Once registered, you can access the Zoom room for this experience through your confirmation email or Eventbrite account.
This event is one of Atlas Obscura’s new Online Experiences. At Atlas Obscura, our mission has always been to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. Now, more than ever, there’s a need to stay connected—not only to our sense of wonder, but to each other. Follow and share the hashtag #AOExperiences for inspiring stories, more incredible online experiences, and live streams with Atlas Obscura and our friends.
