Raimund Abraham
Encyclopedia
Raimund Johann Abraham (July 23, 1933 – March 4, 2010) was an Austrian architect
.
, Tyrol
. He studied architecture at the Technical University in Graz
and in 1959 established an architectural studio in Vienna, where he soon emerged as a leading avant-gardist. In 1964 he moved to the United States. He taught at the Rhode Island School of Design
and, from 1971, at the Cooper Union
in Manhattan and Pratt Institute
in Brooklyn. In 2003 he became a visiting faculty member at the Southern California Institute of Architecture
.
Among his best-known works is the Austrian Cultural Forum Building
in New York City
Abraham died in a car accident in downtown Los Angeles in the early morning of March 4, 2010 after the car he was driving was struck by a bus. Abraham had given a lecture titled "The Profanation of Solitude", at the Southern California Institute of Architecture a few hours before his death. He features prominently in Jonas Mekas
's film As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty, which shows the baptism of his daughter Una.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Life
Raimund Johann Abraham was born in LienzLienz
Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:...
, Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
. He studied architecture at the Technical University in Graz
Graz University of Technology
The Graz University of Technology is the second largest university in Styria, Austria, after the University of Graz. Austria has three universities of technology – in Graz, in Leoben, and in Vienna. The Graz University of Technology was founded in 1811 by Archduke John of Austria. TUG, as the...
and in 1959 established an architectural studio in Vienna, where he soon emerged as a leading avant-gardist. In 1964 he moved to the United States. He taught at the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
and, from 1971, at the Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
in Manhattan and Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in Brooklyn. In 2003 he became a visiting faculty member at the Southern California Institute of Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture
The Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles , California, is an independent, nonprofit school offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture. It offers community design and outreach programs, and free public access to frequent exhibitions and lectures by leading...
.
Among his best-known works is the Austrian Cultural Forum Building
Austrian Cultural Forum New York
The Austrian Cultural Forum New York is one of Austria’s two cultural representation offices in the United States...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Abraham died in a car accident in downtown Los Angeles in the early morning of March 4, 2010 after the car he was driving was struck by a bus. Abraham had given a lecture titled "The Profanation of Solitude", at the Southern California Institute of Architecture a few hours before his death. He features prominently in Jonas Mekas
Jonas Mekas
Jonas Mekas is a Lithuanian-born American filmmaker, writer, and curator who has often been called "the godfather of American avant-garde cinema." His work has been exhibited in museums and festivals across Europe and America.-Biography:...
's film As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty, which shows the baptism of his daughter Una.
External links
- Raimund Abraham - Works & Researches (written by Hans Höger for the Japanese magazine SHIFT)