a meeting with a man: architect harry gesner…
on my birthday weekend, @reecepacheco took me to visit an architect friend of his, harry gesner. this is an 84 year old man who self-educated himself in architecture after dropping out of yale due to difficulties adjusting to a new life after fighting in WWII. despite having job offers from frank lloyd wright, himself, he chose an nontraditional path… to learn by doing. it’s a risky thing to do, especially when today’s standards of getting a master’s or phd is held with utmost importance and is a symbol for success to come - an application process i am currently undergoing.
we spent the morning under harry’s wing at his home called “bird’s eye” talking architecture, materials, preservation, sustainability, automobiles, surfing, and the future of our earth. he has designed and completed over 100 homes in his life, and is not slowing down. he was “west-coast” before west coast was cool. he was “green” before green became fashionable. he was “recycling” before recycling became a standard. this man has a vision - a vision to use what the earth has provided him with and build dwellings that utilize the neighboring materials, views and landscape. his homes have dramatically articulated supports which cantilever over the hilltops in santa monica, and the beaches of malibu coves. his organic and free spirited forms, oddly enough, stand juxtaposed to the “pragmatic” modern geometrics we have become accustom to perceiving as chic design. but his design aesthetic reflects his personality. he is uplifting and down to earth, and he emits a contagiously soothing sense of self-harmony. perhaps he gets it from life by the sea, or perhaps he gets it from knowing that he is living out his vocation as a producer of his own kind, replicated in another form.
there is little out on harry gesner, but abrams publishing company has commissioned him to write his life story…
more on harry for now see:
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