Karl Schwanzer
| Karl Schwanzer | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 21, 1918 Vienna, Austria |
| Died | August 20, 1975 (aged 57) Vienna |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Alma mater | Vienna University of Technology |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | BMW Headquarters, 20er Haus |
Karl Schwanzer (May 21, 1918 in Vienna – August 20, 1975, Vienna) was an Austrian architect. He was an important figure of post-war architecture.
Karl Schwanzer studied architecture at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna, graduating in 1940. In 1941 he received a PhD for his work "Arbeit Neues Bauen im befreiten Oberschlesien. Der Ring in Sohrau. Entschandelung und Gestaltung" (New construction work in liberated Upper Silesia. The ring in Żory. Refurbishment and design).
In 1947 Schwanzer opened his own studio. At the beginning of his career as a freelance architect he worked on smaller projects, such as entrance halls and exhibitions, leading to new contracts in the early years. No matter how small the task, Schwanzer completed the assignment with outstanding energy and ingenuity. Successes in national and international competitions helped the studio grow, gaining international recognition with working methods guided by the principle: "Quality is more important than merit". Schwanzer strove for perfection, expanding on an original idea in terms of architecture and functionality. "Hour after hour, day after day, and long into the night, approaches were planned, discussed, modified, discarded and revived time and time again."
In his creative period from 1947 to 1975, Schwanzer developed a variety of distinctive buildings, closely relating a building's design to its function and structure, often exploring new architectural approaches. He also designed furniture and fittings and founded the Österreichische Institut für Formgebung (Austrian Institute for Design). In 1967 he opened a second studio in Munich.
From 1947 to 1951, Schwanzer was a lecturer at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna. In 1959, he became a full professor at the Technical University of Vienna and head of the Institute for Architecture and Design. For over 15 years he trained a large number of architects, many of them gaining international recognition. From 1965 to 1966, he was Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture.
Schwanzer was also in demand as a visiting professor at a number of universities, including the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (1964–65), the Technical University of Budapest (1967), and the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia (1972).
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