Dominique Berninger
Encyclopedia
Dominique Berninger, AIA
, (1898-1949), was a French-born American architect based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
, United States
, who practiced nationally in the mid twentieth century but particularly in Pennsylvania. He is best known for his design of the French Pavilion for the New York World's Fair of 1939, and was a colleague of Louis Isadore Kahn, FAIA
, founding the short-lived the Architectural Research Group
(ARG) of Philadelphia with him. He was partners in the firms of Berlinger & Bower (fl. 1935-1945) Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont (fl. 1946-1946)
, in Paris, France.
from 1925 to 1932. During this time he served as job captain for their design project of the Sheffield Scientific School
at Yale University
, New Haven, Connecticut
, a project that cost around $1,250,000. In 1932, he formed with Louis Isadore Kahn, FAIA
, to form the Architectural Research Group
(ARG) in Philadelphia. Kahn had just returned from Washington, D.C., working on the U.S. Department of Justice building in 1932 and had previously worked with Berninger at Zantzinger, Borie & Medary. The ARG was short-lived and Kahn quickly took a job with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, while Berninger commenced his own practice in 1933 before forming the partnership of Berlinger & Bower.
The most expensive and important work of his career was The French pavilion on the Court of Peace at the 1939 New York World's Fair
, which was the grand open space northeast of the Theme Center. It ran such a celebrated restaurant that after the fair closed and World War II
ended, the restaurant remained in New York City – and soon established itself (as Le Pavilion) as one of the finest French dining establishments in the city. Henri Soulé moved from the French Pavilion at the fair to open Le Pavillon, taking Pierre Franey
along as head chef.
At Berlinger & Bower, Harold Haag worked as a draftsman and after the partnership dissolution in 1945, Berlinger took Haag Paul d'Entremont and into partnership in 1946 as Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont. However, he left this firm that year, which reverted to the name of Haag & d'Entremont
(practicing from the old offices of 445 Cedar Street, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
19046.) He died in 1949. Between 1932 and 1935, he was President of the Architectural Research Group, Philadelphia, for the group study of Housing and Slum Clearance.
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
, (1898-1949), was a French-born American architect based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who practiced nationally in the mid twentieth century but particularly in Pennsylvania. He is best known for his design of the French Pavilion for the New York World's Fair of 1939, and was a colleague of Louis Isadore Kahn, FAIA
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
, founding the short-lived the Architectural Research Group
Architectural Research Group
The Architectural Research Group was a short-lived American architectural collaboration society functioning between 1933 and 1934 whose members were interested in the European avant-garde-influenced aesthetics and populist social agenda...
(ARG) of Philadelphia with him. He was partners in the firms of Berlinger & Bower (fl. 1935-1945) Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont (fl. 1946-1946)
Early life and education
Born in May 31, 1898 in France, Berlinger attended high school in Darmstadt, Germany, preparatory school in Paris, France, and graduated with a bachelors from the great École Centrale des Arts et ManufacturersÉcole Centrale Paris
École Centrale Paris is a French university-level institution in the field of engineering. It is also known by its original name École centrale des arts et manufactures, or ECP. Founded in 1829, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious engineering schools in France and has the special status...
, in Paris, France.
Architectural career
Upon coming to America, Berlinger worked for Zantzinger, Borie and Medery, Architects of Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from 1925 to 1932. During this time he served as job captain for their design project of the Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, a project that cost around $1,250,000. In 1932, he formed with Louis Isadore Kahn, FAIA
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
, to form the Architectural Research Group
Architectural Research Group
The Architectural Research Group was a short-lived American architectural collaboration society functioning between 1933 and 1934 whose members were interested in the European avant-garde-influenced aesthetics and populist social agenda...
(ARG) in Philadelphia. Kahn had just returned from Washington, D.C., working on the U.S. Department of Justice building in 1932 and had previously worked with Berninger at Zantzinger, Borie & Medary. The ARG was short-lived and Kahn quickly took a job with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, while Berninger commenced his own practice in 1933 before forming the partnership of Berlinger & Bower.
The most expensive and important work of his career was The French pavilion on the Court of Peace at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
, which was the grand open space northeast of the Theme Center. It ran such a celebrated restaurant that after the fair closed and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended, the restaurant remained in New York City – and soon established itself (as Le Pavilion) as one of the finest French dining establishments in the city. Henri Soulé moved from the French Pavilion at the fair to open Le Pavillon, taking Pierre Franey
Pierre Franey
Pierre Franey was a French chef, best known for his televised cooking shows and his "60 Minute Gourmet" column in The New York Times.Franey grew up in northern Burgundy, France...
along as head chef.
At Berlinger & Bower, Harold Haag worked as a draftsman and after the partnership dissolution in 1945, Berlinger took Haag Paul d'Entremont and into partnership in 1946 as Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont. However, he left this firm that year, which reverted to the name of Haag & d'Entremont
Haag & d'Entremont
Haag & d'Entremont was a mid-twentieth-century American architecture firm known for school architecture, which practiced nationally but particularly focused its work in Pennsylvania...
(practicing from the old offices of 445 Cedar Street, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. "Jenkintown" is also used to describe a number of neighborhoods surrounding the borough, which also are known by names such as Rydal, Jenkintown Manor and Noble...
19046.) He died in 1949. Between 1932 and 1935, he was President of the Architectural Research Group, Philadelphia, for the group study of Housing and Slum Clearance.
Works as Berlinger & Bower
- 1939: New York World's Fair French Pavilion (client: French Government; cost: $1,500,000; demolished 1940)
- Academy of the New Church Elementary School, Bryn Athyn, PA. (cost $70,000)0
- 1946: Academy of the New Church Elementary School and Dormitories, Bryn Athyn, PA. (cost $300,000)
- George Deming Residence, Philadelphia (cost $75,000)
- Dufur Hospital Addition, Ambler, for the Dufur Hospital, Inc. (cost $35,000)