Harry Gesner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harry Harmer Gesner April 28, 1925 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
| Died | June 10, 2022 (aged 97) Malibu, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Years active | 1947–? |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Zen Gesner |
Harry Harmer Gesner (April 28, 1925 – June 10, 2022) was an American architect from California. Gesner principally designed houses in the Los Angeles area, especially along the coast in Malibu.
Following service in the US Army during World War II,[1] Gesner was a self-taught architect. Though denied by Gesner and Utzon, his Wave House (1957) has been proposed as an inspiration for Danish architect Jørn Utzon's Sydney Opera House. Gesner worked with difficult sites, often steeply sloping, on beaches, or in narrow canyons, using primarily natural materials. His houses usually featured strong, dominant roof lines and large expanses of glass oriented to specific views.