Gordon Kaufmann

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This article is about the architect whose name ends in double 'nn'. For theologian whose name ends in one 'n', see Gordon D. Kaufman.
Gordon Bernie Kaufmann
Gordon Kaufmann.jpg
Born19 March 1888
Forest Hill, London, United Kingdom
Died1 March 1949(1949-03-01) (aged 60)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityUnited States
Alma materLondon Polytechnic Institute
Occupationarchitect
Known forWork on the Hoover Dam
Spouse(s)Eva A. Kaufmann (two sons)
Elsie S. Bryant[1]
Kaufmann's Los Angeles Times building

Gordon Bernie Kaufmann (19 March 1888 – 1 March 1949)[2] was an English-born American architect mostly known for his work on the Hoover Dam.

Early life[]

On 19 March 1888, Kaufmann was born in Forest Hill, London, England.[3]

Education[]

Kaufmann attended Whitgift School in south Croydon, and went on to graduate from the London Polytechnic Institute, circa 1908. Kaufmann then moved to Vancouver in British Columbia, where he spent the next six years.

Career[]

Scripps College

During Kaufmann's early career, he did much work in the Mediterranean Revival Style, which had become popular at that time. He was also the initial architect for Scripps College, a liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges.

Kaufmann, along with landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout, designed the general campus plan featuring four residence halls to be built the first four consecutive years of the College (1927–1930). The project's design is primarily in the Mediterranean Revival style.[4]

While gaining recognition for Kaufmann's work on the Scripps campus, he was also hired by California Institute of Technology in 1928 to design the complex of dormitories now known as the South Houses, and the building for the Athenaeum, a private club located on the school's campus.[5]

Later in his career, Kaufmann worked primarily in the Art Deco style, with a personal emphasis on massively thick, streamlined concrete walls which gave his buildings a very distinctive appearance. Kaufmann's buildings as a result took on a very "mechanical" appearance, often resembling huge versions of old-fashioned appliances. The Los Angeles Times' headquarters is a perfect example of this. His work was also part of the architecture event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[6]

Projects[]

This is a selected list of Kaufmann's projects.

  • 1928 Greystone Mansion – 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, California. Architect.[7]
  • 1929 Masonic Clubhouse, now the Geffen Playhouse Theater, 10886 LeConte, part of the master-planned Westwood Village, Los Angeles
  • 1934 Santa Anita Park
  • 1935 Hoover Dam
  • 1935 Los Angeles Times Building – 202 West 1st St, Los Angeles, California. Architect.
  • 1940 Hollywood Palladium – 6201 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California. Architect.[8]
  • 1947 Beverly House – 1011 N. Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, California. Architect.[9]

Personal life[]

In 1914, Kaufmann moved to California and settled in Fresno, California. Kaufmann's wife was Elsie Bryant Kaufmann. On 1 March 1949, Kaufmann died in Los Angeles California. Kaufmann is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Gordon Bernie Kaufmann (Architect)". pcad.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. ^ Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved 10 June 2014 (bad link)
  3. ^ "Gordon Bernie Kaufmann (Architect)". pcad.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Scripps College Historical Timeline". Archived from the original on 11 December 2012.
  5. ^ "The History of the Athenaeum".
  6. ^ "Gordon Kaufmann". Olympedia. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Greystone Mansion". beverlyhills.org. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Hollywood Palladium". laconservancy.org. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Beverly House". beverlyhouseestate.com. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Gordon Bernie Kaufmann". Find a Grave. Retrieved 17 June 2019.[non-primary source needed]

External links[]

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