HAERTLING'S HOUSES

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Prolific designer combined modernism, organic architecture

CHarles Haertling firmly believed he did not design homes; he designed houses. The iconic Boulder architect maintained that a "home" was what one put into a "house."'He provided the blank canvas on which families could paint their own traditions and memories.

More than 40 of Haertling's structures dot Boulder's neighborhoods, and he's recognized for combining elements of modernism and organic architecture into his work. As a member of the Boulder City Council, he was key in preserving open spaces, working with grassroots organizations resulting in the development of Pearl Street Mall and serving on the landmarks board in the early 1980s. Some parallel his work to that of Frank Lloyd Wright.

After serving in the Navy, Haertling went on to study architecture at Washington University in St, Louis. He graduated in 1952, and moved to Boulder the next year to teach at the University of Colorado. Before starting his own practice in 1957, Haertling worked as a designer with local architects Jim Hunter and later Tician Papacristou.

Like Wright, Haertling found inspiration in nature and often incorporated site features into the houses he designed. Some Haertling houses are drawn from plant and aquatic lifeforms.

The Warburton House in Gold Hill is an example of his design philosophies. Built in 1963, the owners had specific requirements: The project had to come in on budget, capital- ize on the views, hold three bedrooms and withstand the winds blowing off the Continental Divide. Meeting the final requirement was no small feat considering the property is situated at 9,000 feet in the third windiest spot on the planet. But Haertling met all the requirements and solved the wind issue by designing a curved, cast concrete structure that mimicked the form of the yucca plant's seed pod, allowing the winds to flow over and around it without damaging the house. All this for $25,000.

The Brenton House on Wonderland Hill, whose structure is based on the sea barnacle, is one of Haertling's best-known designs. It's often called the "Mushroom House" because the five connected pods resemble the fungi. Polyurethane sprayed over a steel wire and rebar frame are the primary building materials.

Haertling houses and commercial buildings are known for...