Lux Guyer facts for kids
Luise (Lux) Guyer (born August 20, 1894, in Zurich – died May 25, 1955, in Zurich) was an important Swiss architect. She is best known for designing buildings for the first SAFFA women's fair in Bern in 1927.
Early life and education
Lux Guyer was the daughter of a schoolteacher named Johannes Heinrich Guyer. She first studied interior design at the Arts and Crafts School in Zurich in 1917. The next year, she went to the Technology Institute.
After her studies, she worked as an apprentice at architecture firms in Zurich and Berlin. An apprenticeship is like on-the-job training. She also traveled to cities like Paris, London, and Florence to learn more about architecture.
Building a career
In 1924, Lux Guyer made history. She became one of the first women in Switzerland to open her own architecture business. Her office was in Zurich. She often designed both the buildings and their interiors. She sometimes worked with other designers on the inside spaces.
One of her first big jobs was designing homes for single women. In 1927, she became the main architect for the first SAFFA fair. This fair showed off the achievements of women. She built one of the fair's buildings very quickly, in just three months. She used special wooden parts that were made in advance, called prefabricated elements.
When the fair opened in Bern in 1928, Lux Guyer became very well known. Even during tough times like wars and economic problems, she kept her business going. Her work became even more popular in the 1950s.
Lux Guyer married Hans Studer in 1930. They had a son named Urs in 1933. She liked to design at night. In the mornings, she worked in her garden. During the day, she visited building sites, went to meetings, or worked in her office. On weekends, she often welcomed visitors.
Important projects
Here are some of the buildings Lux Guyer designed:
- Lettenhof women's housing development in Zurich (1927)
- A holiday home in Weggis (1928)
- Lindenhof home for female students, teachers, and office workers in Zurich (1928)
- She was the head architect for the SAFFA women's fair in Bern (1928)
- A medium-sized family home, which was a show house at the SAFFA fair in Bern (1928)
- Villa Kusentobel in Küsnacht (1933)
- An old people's home in Jongny-sur-Vevey (1942)
In 1997, Lux Guyer's work was honored by the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. This is a group that recognizes important people and their contributions.
