Test your design IQ
MANILA, Philippines - Who was the French-American architect who was both a gifted designer for landmark buildings like Breakers, the Cornelius Vanderbilt mansion on Rhode Island and the Cathedral of Saint Paul?
This architect, who influenced a generation of American architects including Paul Allen and Leonard B. Schutlze, was born in Dippe, France on Sept. 10, 1861, and was educated in Rouen and Paris.
He studied at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris as a pupil of Jean Claude Laisne and Paul-Rene-Leon Ginain. During that time, he was awarded the Deschaumes Prize by the Institute of France, as well as the Chandesaigues Prize.
He came to the United States in 1887 to work for various architectural firms in New York City, and helped design many notable buildings including The Breakers for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 1893, he opened an atelier for the study of architecture according to French methods along with architect Walter B. Chambers. Located in New York, this was the first wholly independent atelier in the US. A colorful dynamic teacher, he taught his students — Paul R. Allen, Leonard B. Schulze, and William van Allen — to make things simple.
In 1899, he made a special provision for women to be included among his students, and established a second atelier especially for them.
His reputation became international in 1901 when the commissioner of architecture of the St. Louis exposition selected him to be chief of design. As chief of design of the Louisana Purchase Exposition, a position he held for three years, he personally designed buildings like the Palace of Agriculture, the Cascades and Colonnades, the Palace of Forestry, Game and Fish, the Palace of Horticulture, and the Palace of Transportation.
Design ideas from these buildings were widely emulated in civic projects around the United States as part of its City Beautiful Movement. In 1904, he was invited by Archbishop John Ireland of St. Paul to come to Minnesota and design the new Cathedral of St. Paul for the city.
He arrived in St. Paul in 1905 and remained there until his death. While there, he designed two dozen parish churches for Catholic and Protestant congregations in the upper Midwest including the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Marshall, Minnesota, and the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas in St.Paul. He also designed the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion in Wichita, Kansas and St. Joseph Cathedral in South Dakota.
Other buildings he designed were the Keane Hall at Loras College and the planned new city of Twin Falls, ID.
In 1906, he founded an atelier, which continued his Beaux Arts method of architectural training, with Edwin H. Lundie among his students. He was a charter member of the Society of Beaux Arts Architect (now the Van Alen Institute) and the Architectural League of New York, the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects, as well as the national organization.
He died in St. Paul on May 26, 1917 and is buried in his beloved city.
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Last week’s question: Who was this German artist who was a master appropriator that consistently absorbed, challenged and transformed the world around him. His work draws on popular culture, art, architecture, music, politics, history and his own life — where no subject remained sacred. He is now regarded as one of the most influential artists of his time.
Answer: Martin Kippenberger
Winner: Bernadette C. Cruz of Caloocan City
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Text your answer to 0927-9148817 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Call the store manager at 634-1950, 634-1943. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.
