Adolf Wanger was born on November 4, 1896, in Graz, Austria.His father, Alois, was a draper, and he had a twin brother whose name was Edmund.During his childhood Adolfs family moved to Vienna, a city whose culture left a great mark on the young Adolf, who developed a passion for architecture, philosophy, and music.
Adolf attended the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1923 to 1927, studying architecture. Inspired by his studies, Adolf became strongly influenced by modernist approaches. Some of his most groundbreaking early work was characterized by daring and experimental use of steel and glass.
In 1929, Adolfs designs were featured at the Cologne Exhibition, which was a major turning point in his career. His innovative structures, which at the time were seen as revolutionary, earned him great acclaim, and Adolf subsequently created some of the world’s most iconic buildings.
Adolf fashioned a unique style of modernist architecture that was highly influential during the 1930s; this era was also marked by the rise of the Nazis and their brutal regime. Adolf never joined the Nazi Party but his controversial views made him a target of Nazi disapproval.
Adolf was forced to flee Europe and took up residence in Chicago in March 1938.This move allowed him to continue his career in architecture despite the looming threats of fascism and war in Europe.During his time in Chicago he designed the well-known Lake Shore Drive Apartments and helped to restore the Chicago Tribune Tower.
Adolf Wanger’s greatest architectural achievement was undoubtedly his design of the iconic Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. Built in 1950, this glass and steel masterpiece exemplifies the International style of architecture that Adolf helped to develop. It revolutionized residential architecture in America and is today regarded as a major cultural landmark.
Adolf Wanger died in Chicago on August 15, 1969. His legacy lives on in hundreds of modernist buildings throughout the world. He will always be remembered for revolutionizing the field of architecture, and for introducing an almost revolutionary spirit to modernist design. Adolf Wanger has left an indelible mark on the history of architecture, and his vision and creativity have inspired generations of architects.
