Thanks for sharing this. As a person who was in the interior design/architecture world for most of my ‘career’ this “architecture” speaks so loudly of California and especially NoCA.
It’s interesting that this should pop up. I was just talking with a friend who lives in Napa about Harbin Hot Springs and said we should go there.
Since the early 70’s when I was in college in Santa Cruz I had heard about Harbin Hot Springs. A couple of my friends from Santa Cruz who now live up in Sebastopol were regular visitors and campers at Harbin. Even their now adult children go there!
Sadly I was never there when this building existed. Was it the main building at Harbin or one of the ‘auxiliary’ buildings? They are slowly rebuilding Harbin, but the new buildings have no resemblance to this magnificent masterpiece of beauty and engineering.
When I visit NoCA next time, I am heading up to Harbin! I was just up in SF and Napa, but just couldn’t fit in a day trip up there. It’s just so strange that I have heard about Harbin Hot Springs since the early 70’s, in college in Santa Cruz, and then when I lived in Marin in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and I never got up there!
hello Lloyd, nice posting of that amazing building of Sunday... i hear you're 90 and thinking of writing a memoir...that is heady stuff! I can give you some advise and help. I am 91, and just self published my memoir,.It took a year to write, but now publishing, marketing, retailng, and money all bring their annoying parts into this fine idea and that looses the beauty of the writing.
Hey Lloyd, forgive the obvious question, but what was the building used for? You mention yoga classes. Was it a kind of community space? Did SunRay live there?
When i first saw Sun Ray's architecture in your books, i was startled about his audacity and free-form craftmanship. And his bare foot on dangerous building sites!
Expressing his perception of nature in his buildings, giving the human being seemingly space to connect to mother earth, being part of one global, cosmic enery system.
Awsome.
Lloyd, do you know of hungarian architect Imre Marcovecz? He seems to have been deeply rooted not only in folk traditions, building organically with wood and reed-thatches roofs - especially his ecclesiastical buildings radiate spiritual energy...
I loved seeing this building in ‘Builders of the Pacific Northwest’. Truly inspiring- thanks for reminding me what an inspired builder can accomplish. ~ From Zambia with affection and respect.
An epic mythic sweet powerful human. Thank you for reminding us in memorializing him. And thank you as always for your work. You bring wonder and joy and share it with the world. Thank you.
what amazes me, is how the shape of the building seems to blend in with the hillsides around it, as if it was shaped to fit exactly between the hills - What a magnificent building, and how incredibly sad that it's now gone ~
I assume it has to do with water; rain. Those are cob walls; mud. So the rocks take the backsplash. Look at the enormous roof overhangs. I’ve followed some cob builders and notice that they are mostly - but not all - in mostly drier areas.
This building is beautiful! I love everything about it! I'm sorry it's creater is gone (as is his building also, right?) what a marvelous legacy that you were fortunate enough to have witnessed & share. Thank you. Now I need to get your 'Builders of the Pacific Northwest' book. Looking forward to it!
I wondered why I no longer hear about SunRay. He once invited me to create some eco-toilets out there (in the late 1990s), but the world was large then and I couldn't imagine just flitting out there. So glad you posted this. He has other buildings still intact in Oregon, doesn't he?
Had the pleasure to stay at SunRay’s and take a sauna with him when he was still in his body, and then later to hang with Bonnie. We’re fortunate up here in the Seattle area to be able to visit the shire with relative ease. Hadn’t seen this building, thank you for sharing!
I am glad I stumbled on your substack account. The days of true and authentic art and architecture is long gone. Hopefully some youngsters will learn from the past and preserve some of the so-called "old" buildings. Thank you for your inspiration.
Thanks for sharing this. As a person who was in the interior design/architecture world for most of my ‘career’ this “architecture” speaks so loudly of California and especially NoCA.
It’s interesting that this should pop up. I was just talking with a friend who lives in Napa about Harbin Hot Springs and said we should go there.
Since the early 70’s when I was in college in Santa Cruz I had heard about Harbin Hot Springs. A couple of my friends from Santa Cruz who now live up in Sebastopol were regular visitors and campers at Harbin. Even their now adult children go there!
Sadly I was never there when this building existed. Was it the main building at Harbin or one of the ‘auxiliary’ buildings? They are slowly rebuilding Harbin, but the new buildings have no resemblance to this magnificent masterpiece of beauty and engineering.
All the buildings were destroyed, and it'll never be the same. But the hot springs area up at the top is still great, including a new killer sauna.
When I visit NoCA next time, I am heading up to Harbin! I was just up in SF and Napa, but just couldn’t fit in a day trip up there. It’s just so strange that I have heard about Harbin Hot Springs since the early 70’s, in college in Santa Cruz, and then when I lived in Marin in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and I never got up there!
hello Lloyd, nice posting of that amazing building of Sunday... i hear you're 90 and thinking of writing a memoir...that is heady stuff! I can give you some advise and help. I am 91, and just self published my memoir,.It took a year to write, but now publishing, marketing, retailng, and money all bring their annoying parts into this fine idea and that looses the beauty of the writing.
Here is my website; www.wanderlustconsulting.com this is how I sell my book;
TRAIL BLAZING THE UNKNOWN, Berkeley 2025.
Hey, lets go for a bikeride on the GG bridge and swap some tales.
yours in friendship
Leo
Great to hear from you, Leo. Could you send your email address and phone number to me at: lloyd@shelterpub.com?
Hey Lloyd, forgive the obvious question, but what was the building used for? You mention yoga classes. Was it a kind of community space? Did SunRay live there?
Was used for yoga, dance, community meetings.
When i first saw Sun Ray's architecture in your books, i was startled about his audacity and free-form craftmanship. And his bare foot on dangerous building sites!
Expressing his perception of nature in his buildings, giving the human being seemingly space to connect to mother earth, being part of one global, cosmic enery system.
Awsome.
Lloyd, do you know of hungarian architect Imre Marcovecz? He seems to have been deeply rooted not only in folk traditions, building organically with wood and reed-thatches roofs - especially his ecclesiastical buildings radiate spiritual energy...
Thanks, didn't know of Marcovecz, really impressive!
there is always something new under the sun ...to discover.🐞
I loved seeing this building in ‘Builders of the Pacific Northwest’. Truly inspiring- thanks for reminding me what an inspired builder can accomplish. ~ From Zambia with affection and respect.
An epic mythic sweet powerful human. Thank you for reminding us in memorializing him. And thank you as always for your work. You bring wonder and joy and share it with the world. Thank you.
What a magnificent structure. I wish I could have seen it in person. Thanks for the photos!
what amazes me, is how the shape of the building seems to blend in with the hillsides around it, as if it was shaped to fit exactly between the hills - What a magnificent building, and how incredibly sad that it's now gone ~
I'm so sorry I never saw it. Tell more about the boulders and cobbles at the base of the exterior walls, please.
I assume it has to do with water; rain. Those are cob walls; mud. So the rocks take the backsplash. Look at the enormous roof overhangs. I’ve followed some cob builders and notice that they are mostly - but not all - in mostly drier areas.
Beautiful
This building is beautiful! I love everything about it! I'm sorry it's creater is gone (as is his building also, right?) what a marvelous legacy that you were fortunate enough to have witnessed & share. Thank you. Now I need to get your 'Builders of the Pacific Northwest' book. Looking forward to it!
I wondered why I no longer hear about SunRay. He once invited me to create some eco-toilets out there (in the late 1990s), but the world was large then and I couldn't imagine just flitting out there. So glad you posted this. He has other buildings still intact in Oregon, doesn't he?
Had the pleasure to stay at SunRay’s and take a sauna with him when he was still in his body, and then later to hang with Bonnie. We’re fortunate up here in the Seattle area to be able to visit the shire with relative ease. Hadn’t seen this building, thank you for sharing!
I am grateful I was able to experience that spot quite a few times before that fire happened, it was truly magical…
A beautiful tribute to craftsmanship, vision & spirit of that land and person.
As a visitor many many years ago, I got to experience a week at Harbon Hot Springs and many adventures took place.
I am glad I stumbled on your substack account. The days of true and authentic art and architecture is long gone. Hopefully some youngsters will learn from the past and preserve some of the so-called "old" buildings. Thank you for your inspiration.