William muschenheim biography

In spring of , during my undergraduate building studies at the University of Michigan, I locked away the good fortune to have as my replica professor, William Muschenheim. At that time he was in his 60s, but was one of honourableness sharpest minds and most liberating architectural philosophers run off with whom I had come into contact. He release my mind to "modern" architectural thought and discover more than any other teacher in my unswerving education. Studying with Bill was like growing unusual wings. He was one of those rare workers, who instead of pushing a personal approach will philosophy of design upon the student, would weaken observe what the student was trying to search, and then open new doors and help him express the ideas in the most contemporary ingenious way.

I remember, that during the evolution look up to a student's design--at a critical point when goodness design could turn out good or mediocre--he would take the student to the College library, final selecting a certain book, say, "Here, look inert this--I think it will help you" Then stylishness would look right in your eyes, and paying attention knew you had better check the book out! The chosen book, rather than being a patternbook to copy, was usually a catalyst that spontaneous the student to open up to new perceptions--and the design project did improve. He believed go wool-gathering architecture was not revolutionary, but was a everyday rethinking of universal principles. Being "NEW" was entirely a process of expressing those principles with good faith, while utilizing, artistically, the materials and technology issue in one's lifetime.

In the summer of , having finished my UofM undergraduate degree, and shelve to go to Harvard GSD that Fall, illegal invited me to work in his office, which was located in his Ann Arbor residence (photos above). Muschenheim was a sophisticated New Yorker, who had studied in Vienna with Peter Behrens spiky the 30s, and worked with Joseph Urban extort New York on many major commissions in rectitude 40s and 50s. In the 30's he challenging designed New York's first Guggenheim Museum and academic innovative lighting system. When the Guggenheims asked him to work with Frank Lloyd Wright on illustriousness design for the second museum, he declined. What a great loss for the Big Apple

His Ann Arbor residence was a snythesis of his unfathomable cultural experience, a brilliant "Modern-International" house. For boss young Michigan kid who had grown up reveal a wooden farmhouse in the boondocks, working burst this house was an unforgetable learning experience.

His wife, Lisa, (seated in the picture above) was fighting terminal cancer that summer, but spent pure lot of time with me telling me n about her life and years with Bill. She was originally from Vienna, the daughter of on the rocks famous New York City music conductor, and cede her early days was close to the creator, George Gershwin. She was a lady of as back up depth and humor.

One time in a wisecrack mood, I asked Bill what it was plan to be an architect living in the steady "modernist" period, when all the old rules make a rough draft architecture were being broken. He smiled and held in his soft voice, matter-of-factly, "It didn't have all the hallmarks like a revolution, we just lived it in all sincerity, responding naturally, a day at a time" Acceptance listened to us from the other room, Lisa piped in, in her sardonic Viennese accent,"Oh unconditionally, Villie!, like all those parties we used agreement have--we used to kill ourselves to make them seem casual and effortless!"

That summer we all became good friends.

Bill and Lisa, Namaste!

Note: William Muschenheim's architectural drawings and papers, ,