Konrad Wachsmann
Encyclopedia
Konrad Wachsmann was a German modernist architect. He is notable for his contribution to the mass production of building components.
Originally apprenticed as a cabinetmaker, Wachsmann studied at the arts-and-crafts schools of Berlin
and Dresden
and at the Berlin Academy of Arts (under the Expressionist architect Hans Poelzig
). During the late 1920s he was chief architect for a manufacturer of timber buildings. He designed a summer house for Albert Einstein
, one of his lifelong friends. He received the Prix de Rome
from the German Academy in Rome in 1932.
In 1938 he emigrated to Paris and in 1941 to the United States, where he began a collaboration with Walter Gropius
and developed the "Packaged House System", a design for a house which could be constructed in less than nine hours. Before the end of the Second World War he also developed a mobile aircraft hangar for the Atlas Aircraft Corporation
. He would later design aircraft hangars for the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s.
Wachsmann taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology
in Chicago
from 1949 to 1964 and at the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles
from 1964 to 1974.. He was the first recipient of the Neutra Medal for Professional Excellence
in 1980.
He is buried in his native Frankfurt an der Oder.
Originally apprenticed as a cabinetmaker, Wachsmann studied at the arts-and-crafts schools of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and at the Berlin Academy of Arts (under the Expressionist architect Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig
Hans Poelzig was a German architect, painter and set designer.-Life:Poelzig was born in Berlin in 1869 to the countess Clara Henrietta Maria Poelzig while she was married to George Acland Ames, an Englishman...
). During the late 1920s he was chief architect for a manufacturer of timber buildings. He designed a summer house for Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, one of his lifelong friends. He received the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
from the German Academy in Rome in 1932.
In 1938 he emigrated to Paris and in 1941 to the United States, where he began a collaboration with Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
and developed the "Packaged House System", a design for a house which could be constructed in less than nine hours. Before the end of the Second World War he also developed a mobile aircraft hangar for the Atlas Aircraft Corporation
Atlas Aircraft Corporation
The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa was established in 1965 to manufacture a number of sophisticated military aircraft and avionics equipment for the South African Air Force, as well as for export...
. He would later design aircraft hangars for the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s.
Wachsmann taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1949 to 1964 and at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from 1964 to 1974.. He was the first recipient of the Neutra Medal for Professional Excellence
Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design
The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona College Environmental Design also known as the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design is one of Cal Poly Pomona's seven colleges. The college houses over 1,600 students; making it one of largest environmental design programs in the...
in 1980.
He is buried in his native Frankfurt an der Oder.