Reader: No matter what you call it, the Sleeper house is a landmark

The Sleeper house, the Colorado home made famous by Woody Allen's 1973 film Sleeper, is among our state's most iconic buildings -- and, according to a recent Forbes list, one of America's ugliest mansions. The magazine claims "it's perfect...for aliens" -- but plenty of Coloradans love the place. Thumbnail image...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 17, 2012

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The Sleeper house, the Colorado home made famous by Woody Allen's 1973 film Sleeper, is among our state's most iconic buildings -- and, according to a recent Forbes list, one of America's ugliest mansions. The magazine claims "it's perfect...for aliens" -- but plenty of Coloradans love the place.

Thumbnail image for 1 sleeper house.jpg

Molly, for example, who writes:

I grew up hearing this house referred to as the Clamshell. Then I heard it called the Spaceship House. Then I heard it's "official" name was The Sculptured House. Now it's the Sleeper house? I can't keep up with all the names for this thing, but it is pretty from I-70, especially at night when it's all lit up. It's always seemed to be more of an architectural experiment than an actual functioning home, though. I think it should be allowed to be a little ugly.

See a photo spread on the Sleeper house here, and post your own thoughts below.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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