Architect Profiles: Charles Haertling (1926-1984)
Dammann House (1966)
Charles Haertling is one of Colorado’s most important modernist architects. He designed over 40 buildings around Boulder, in addition to houses and churches in Denver, Cherry Hills, Littleton, Northglenn, Brighton, Lakewood, Lookout Mountain, Gold Hill, Vail, Snowmass, Cleveland, Albuquerque and even Costa Rica.
Moment House (1966)
Haertling was an organic architect. His designs often derived from flowers, leaves, mushrooms, yucca plants, mollusks and other examples of nature. In this respect, he is sometimes compared to architect Bruce Goff. The Moment Houst (above) has lost some of that organic feel now that it has been white-washed.
Menkick House (1970)
As you can see, his architecture was quite diverse and at times also displayed a strong Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian infuence, as is evident here in the wonderful Menkick House, which incorporates a large rock outcropping.
Brenton House (1969)
The Brenton House above was one of about a half-dozen Colorado buildings chosen to represent life in the future for Woody Allen’s Sleeper film.
Johnson House (1976)
Haertling moved to Boulder to teach at CU in 1953. During this time he also worked as a designer for Jim Hunter and Tician Papachristou, before practicing architecture himself in 1957. (A house in Cherry Hills recently came on the market which is a collaboration between Papachristou and Haertling).
Another view of the Brenton House
While driving around the fringes of Boulder, especially near Flagstaff, you often spot unique interesting homes from the 1960s and ’70s. More often than not, you will be looking at a Haertling design.
Quaker Friends Meeting House (1960)
Charles Haerting was civic minded, he served as a city council member from 1967-1973, as deputy mayor from 1970-71 and was one of the main influences for Boulder developing its Greenbelt/Open Space plan that has preserved the livability of Boulder to this day.
Boulder Eye Clinic (1969)
His famous Boulder Eye Clinic building stands out as a landmark on Broadway. The four windows originally protruded out with eye charts at the ends, form following function!
Jourgenson House (1970)
Willard House (1962)
The Willard House was threatened in recent years when an unruly neighbor decided to dig out the mountainside to make way for new construction. The construction project was abandoned, but the hole remains and threatens the amazing Willard House.
Closeup of the Willard House
Triframe Modular, Lakewood (1965)
Razee House, Denver (1970)
The Razee House in Denver is an outstanding example of Brutalist design. Brutalist structures are often known for their cast-in-place rough-surface concrete.
Our Savior Parish Center, Denver (1961)
Haertling was also a religious man and designed two Denver area churches and remodeled an interior of a church in Boulder.
Our Savior Parish Center
His design for the Our Savior Parish Center on Capitol Hill in Denver was very controversial and originally featured spikes on the edges of the roofline representing the Crown of Thorns.
St. Stephens Church, Northglenn (1964)
The roof of the St. Stephens Church in Northglenn is a fantastic example of the use of the hyperbolic paraboloid and is an engineering triumph.
St. Stephens Church
Kahn House, Boulder (1970)
And lastly we see a wing of the Kahn House on Flagstaff peeking through the envionment with the famous Boulder Flatirons on display behind it.
Charles Haertling succumbed to brain cancer quite suddenly in 1984 at the age of 55. While some may not appreciate his architecture, Boulder residents have all benefited from his dedication to preserving open space.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I applaud you on your endeavor to highlight the modern or progressive architecture that exists in Boulder. I do feel that most people have missed Haertlings work (even though he was featured in Dwell Magazine two years ago), but I believe it is generally due to his ability to environmentally contextualize so well.
For example, although the Brenton or “Mushroom” house is unapologetically idiosyncratic, it is sited in such a way that you have to make it your purpose to discover it. Ostensibly this was learned from many hours studying Frank Lloyd Wright and his philosophies on siting a project, nevertheless, it is a skill that few have developed to such a degree.
Please continue to spread the word on this topic, it’s important for people in Boulder to recognize their surroundings, aside from the mountains, etc., and understand the importance of buildings that do not follow but lead. I look forward to seeing your selections in the future. As an aside, your photos are great! It’s nice to see some current shots of these buildings.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
[...] Charles Haertling’s Willard House [...]
December 31st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Thanks so much for putting up these photos. Haertling did some really interesting work and Boulder is much richer for it. My office is in the former Boulder Eye Clinic and it is a great space, even after some unfortunate renovations.
It is shame that Boulderites don’t have the same pioneering spirit as Haertling and his clients did many decades ago.