Austin’s Weird BloomHouse Hits the Market for $695,000
AUSTIN, TX (January 30, 2017) – The BloomHouse, famous for its sculpture-like architecture, has just hit the market in Austin for $695,000. Designed and built by Charles Harker, construction on the BloomHouse began in 1973 and was complete 11 years later. The 1,101-square-foot home at 0 Encinas Rojas has been listed by Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® sales associate Brian Fahey of the company’s Westlake office.
“This home is one of many elements that fit into the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’, which gives it a great place in Austin’s cultural history,” said Fahey. “The structure is an incredible work of art that has been internationally recognized for its innovation.”
Architect Charles Harker, now a professor of architecture at Kent State, designed the home with the idea of connecting the future home owners with nature. Tired of seeing traditional, linear construction that was so prominent in the city, Harker designed the home to resemble the soothing flow of music.
The project relied on cash financing as a conventional mortgage was not an option for a sculpture home, so construction was slow. The surrounding area at the time was completely undeveloped, so the sculptors lived on site in wood yurts as the home was being built in phases.
The BloomHouse is made of polyurethane foam, which acts as insulation and provides an energy-efficient effect on the residence. All interior woodworking has been hand-crafted specifically for the home and matches the fluidity of the exterior.
The home has water diversion spouts that channel the water from the roof directly to the base of the surrounding trees, effectively sustaining the trees while they provide shade for the home. An outdoor shower is situated just outside the bathroom, further accentuating Harker’s desire to connect the home owner with nature.
A sunken living room offers a fireplace and an oversized sliding glass door. The fluid design means that there are no defined bedrooms, however, the current owners have arranged for three sleeping areas near the home’s full bathroom. A large deck overlooks the home’s two-and-a-half acres of property.
The BloomHouse won an Award of Merit in 1984 by the Austin American Institute of Architects and was part of an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art and museums in Paris.
Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® is a leading residential real estate brokerage company with 9 offices and more than 340 sales associates serving the communities of Austin. Worldwide, the Coldwell Banker network includes 3,000 offices with nearly 85,000 sales associates. Every day, Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® properties are exposed to 16 million buyers on more than 725 high-traffic websites. For more information or to view local properties, visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com. To learn more about a career in real estate or affiliating with Coldwell Banker, visit CareersCB.com. Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® is a subsidiary of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company.
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