Harry Gesner
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| Born | Harry Harmer Gesner (1925-04-28)April 28, 1925[1]
Oxnard, California, U.S.[2]
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| Died | June 10, 2022(2022-06-10) (aged 97)
Malibu, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Architect |
| Years active | 1947–? |
| Spouse |
(m. 1970; died 2010) |
| Children | 3 |
Harry Harmer Gesner (April 28, 1925 – June 10, 2022) was an American architect based in California.
Born and raised in Southern California, his designs are found in locations including Malibu and the Getty Museum.[3] Following service in the US Army during World War II,[4] Gesner was a self-taught architect. His Wave House (1957) was an inspiration for the Sydney Opera House by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.[5][6]
Gesner served in three separate branches of the U.S. Army during World War II. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the 10th Light Division and was deployed as a ski instructor to the Brenner Pass in Italy.[7] Gesner then transferred to the Army Air Corps and flew the B-26 aircraft bomber. Due to his climbing experience, he was transferred to the 1st Army, First Division, where his first deployment was on June 6, 1944, as part of the ground force on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy.[8] An experienced California surfer, Gesner used "duck diving" to evade enemy fire, which helped him survive the invasion. "If I hadn't surfed my whole life, there would have been no way I would have made it," Gesner later recounted. His company was the first group to break through the Siegfried Line. They captured the town of Aachen, then moved north to Churchmen Forest to fight the initial Battle of the Bulge.ref>"World War II Divisional Combat History: 1st Infantry Division". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 14 June 2022.</ref> Gesner was sent out to scout the location. He was injured at the outskirts of Cologne when he was blown though a stone wall from an 88 mm shell shot from a Tiger Tank. He was injured and left unconscious in freezing weather overnight.[9] His company found him the next day. Gesner was transported to Paris where medics were prepared to cut off his frozen legs due to gangrene and frostbite, but due to an overflow of wounded troops they could not schedule the amputations. Instead, Gesner was transferred to a British hospital, where he used knowledge from his time in the ski-troops and requested the nurses bring him ample amounts of olive oil. Gesner saved his own legs over many days by using the olive oil as a lubricant. With his hands Gesner forced blood down to his lower legs where many days later doctors cutting the bottoms of his feet found ample blood flow. His infection was cured through the use of recently discovered penicillin.
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Following service in the US Army during World War II, Gesner became a self-taught architect. He studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West. Harry Gesner felt his style was too constricting and left the school.
Gesner's most recent innovative design is the Cocoon House. This revolutionary aerodynamic design was derived from his observations of nature. The designs come from out of the box thinking. It is self-contained, fully mobile and uses powerful earth screws to hold it when still.[10]
"The Personal Fire Department" Gesner developed this system in conjunction with naval engineers. A wildfire detection and prevention system. [Patent Pending number: 62/696,665]. It incorporates off-grid systems, solar-sensors, satellites, and computer software with a working system located in Malibu Heights. Called "The Personal Fire Department" Known by the name "The HotShot Fire System".[11]
Gesner was the widower of the actress, Nan Martin. They had three children: Tara Tanzer-Cartwright (Teacher), Jason Gesner (Hydroelectric Manager), and Zen Gesner (Actor).[citation needed] Gesner was a nephew of the aircraft designer Jack Northrop.[12]
Gesner died from cancer in Malibu on June 10, 2022, at the age of 97.[13]
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