Konrad Wachsmann facts for kids

Konrad Wachsmann was a German architect who became famous for his ideas about building things quickly and easily. He helped create ways to make parts of buildings in large numbers, like a factory, which made construction much faster.

Konrad Wachsmann was born on May 16, 1901, in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany. He first trained as a cabinetmaker, learning how to build furniture. Later, he studied architecture in cities like Berlin and Dresden. One of his teachers was the well-known architect Hans Poelzig.

In the late 1920s, Wachsmann became the main architect for a company that made wooden buildings. He even designed a summer house for his lifelong friend, the famous scientist Albert Einstein, in Caputh, Brandenburg. In 1932, he won the Prix de Rome, a special award for artists and architects.

Moving to a New Home

In 1938, Konrad Wachsmann moved to Paris, France. Then, in 1941, he moved to the United States. In the U.S., he started working with another famous architect, Walter Gropius.

Building Houses Faster

Together, Wachsmann and Gropius created something called the "Packaged House System." This was a new way to design houses so they could be built incredibly fast. Imagine a house that could be put together in less than nine hours! This system was a big step forward in making housing more efficient.

Designing for the Air Force

During Second World War, Wachsmann also helped with the war effort. He designed a special mobile aircraft hangar for the Atlas Aircraft Corporation. A hangar is a large building where aircraft are kept. His design allowed these hangars to be moved easily. Later, in the 1960s, he designed more aircraft hangars for the U.S. Air Force.

Wachsmann also helped the U.S. Air Force by assisting in the construction of the German Village (Dugway proving ground). This was a special training area built to look like German homes. It was used to practice new fire-bombing techniques during the war.

Teaching Architecture

Konrad Wachsmann loved to share his knowledge. He taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago from 1949 to 1964. After that, he taught at the USC School of Architecture at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles from 1964 to 1979.

In 1980, he received the Neutra Medal for Professional Excellence. This was a very important award for his work in architecture.

Konrad Wachsmann passed away on November 25, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. He is buried in his hometown of Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany. His ideas about making building parts in factories changed how many buildings are constructed today.