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'''Friedrich "Fritz" Eisenhofer''', [[ONZM]] (born 1926), is a [[New Zealand]] architect based in [[Waikanae]].
{{Short description|New Zealand architect (1926–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox architect
⚫
| name = Fritz Eisenhofer
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=100%}} {{post-nominals|list=[[New Zealand Institute of Architects|FNZIA]]|size=100%}}
| image = Fritz Eisenhofer (cropped).jpg
| caption = Eisenhofer in 2010
| birth_name = Friedrich Eisenhofer
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|11|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Spittal an der Drau]], [[First Austrian Republic|Austria]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|07|27|1926|11|14|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Peka Peka]], New Zealand
| citizenship = New Zealander
| spouse = {{marriage|Helen Rickard|1955}}
| alma_mater = [[Academy of Fine Arts Vienna]]
| practice = Winkler and Eisenhofer
| significant_buildings=
| significant_design = {{ubl|Suzy's Coffee Lounge}}
| awards =
⚫
}}


'''Friedrich Eisenhofer''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=85%}} (14 November 1926 – 27 July 2023) was a New Zealand [[Modern architecture|modernist]] architect based in [[Waikanae]].
Eisenhofer was born in the Austrian town of Spittal in 1926 and studied architecture at the Kunst Academy in Vienna after the Second World War. He emigrated to [[New Zealand]] in 1953 in a group of almost 200 skilled Austrian tradesmen contracted to build 500 pre-cut Austrian [[State housing|state houses]] in [[Titahi Bay]]. After the completion of the project, Eisenhofer gained New Zealand residency and began working at the Department of Housing in [[Wellington]]. In the late 1950s, he went into partnership with fellow Austrian architect Erwin Winkler, setting up practice at 108 Cuba Street, Wellington. Their style adhered to the principles of the modern movement and they were heavily influenced by architects such as [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]] and [[Charles Eames]].<ref>Wells, Catherine. "Pleasuredome," ''New Zealand Home and Entertaining'', Jun/Jul (2003): 66–70.</ref> In recent years, Eisenhofer has been described as a visionary architect<ref>Brown, Beverley. "Buried Treasures,” ''The Independent on Sunday'', April 24, 2005, p. 34–36.</ref> who practised ‘uncompromised high-style modernism’.<ref>Lloyd Jenkins, Douglas. ''At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design'' (Auckland: Random House, 2004), 228.</ref>


==Biography==
For much of his career, Eisenhofer's work has focused on [[solar gain]] and a relationship to the surrounding landscape.<ref>[http://fritz-eisenhofer.com/ Fritz Eisenhofer]</ref>
Eisenhofer was born in the Austrian town of [[Spittal an der Drau]] on 14 November 1926,<ref name="Naturalisation">{{cite web |url=https://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&db=NZNaturalisations&h=49225 |title=New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1968 |year=2010 |website= |publisher=Ancestry.com Operations |accessdate=5 January 2018 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and studied [[architecture]] at the [[Academy of Fine Arts Vienna|Kunstakademie]] in [[Vienna]] after the Second World War.


[[File:Eisenhofer lounge-dining room - Winder photo 1965.jpg|thumb|left|Lounge and dining room of a house designed by Eisenhofer, photographed by Duncan Winder in about December 1965]]Eisenhofer emigrated to [[New Zealand]] in 1953 in a group of almost 200 skilled Austrian tradesmen contracted to build 500 pre-cut Austrian [[State housing in New Zealand|state houses]] in [[Tītahi Bay]] ([[Porirua]]).<ref>{{cite book| last1=Wolfsberger |first1=Margit |chapter=Österreichische Migration nach Neuseeland |trans-chapter=Austrian migration to New Zealand |editor1-last=Mückler |editor1-first=Hermann |editor1-link=Hermann Mückler |title=Österreicher in der Südsee: Forscher, Reisende, Auswanderer |trans-title=Austrians in the South Seas: Explorers, Travellers, Emigrants | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjmBdD868oAC |series=Austria: Forschung und Wissenschaft: Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie |language=German |volume=1 |location=Münster |publisher=LIT Verlag |publication-date=2012 |page=300 |isbn=9783643503909 |access-date=2014-08-18 |quote=Neben kleineren Gruppen von ArbeitsmigrantInnen für Fabriksarbeiten oder in Krankenhäusern kamen zwischen 1952 und 1953 194 österreichische Handwerker nach Neuseeland, um ein staatliches Hausbauprojekt in Porirua, einem Nachbarort von Wellington, durchzuführen. [...] Diese Gruppenmigration war ursprünglich zeitlich befristet, ging allerdings nach Beendigung der Dreijahresverträge als 'Gastarbeiter' in individuelle Migration und den Verbleib im Migrationsland über.}}</ref> After the completion of the project, Eisenhofer gained New Zealand residency and began working at the [[Department of Building and Housing|Department of Housing]] in [[Wellington]]. In the late 1950s he went into partnership with fellow Austrian architect Erwin Winkler, setting up practice at 108 [[Cuba Street, Wellington]]. Their style adhered to the principles of the modern movement, heavily influenced by architects such as [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]] and [[Charles Eames]].<ref>
⚫
His own home is dome shaped, built four metres underground and is made from [[ferroconcrete|ferro-cement]]. The large north-facing glass wall regulates the temperature by slowly heating the ground floor through summer. This heat is then gradually released during winter. Inside the home there is a swimming pool and tropical garden.<ref>[http://www.intlistings.com/articles/2008/25-incredible-personal-biodomes/ International Listings - 25 Incredible Personal Biodomes]</ref>
Wells, Catherine. "Pleasuredome," ''New Zealand Home and Entertaining'', Jun/Jul (2003): 66–70.</ref>


Eisenhofer was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2010 New Years honours list.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10617907">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10617907&pnum=2 |title=New Year Honours: Full 2010 list |date=31 December 2009 |agency=[[NZPA]] |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=30 September 2011}}</ref>
Eisenhofer married Helen Rickard in 1955, and the couple had three children.<ref name="Post obituary">{{cite news |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/home-property/350054819/fritz-eisenhofer-property-porn-star-and-architect |title=Fritz Eisenhofer, a 'property porn' star and architect |first=Nicholas |last=Boyack |date=26 August 2023 |work=[[The Post (New Zealand newspaper)|The Post]] |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref> Eisenhofer became a naturalised New Zealander in 1960.<ref name="Naturalisation"/>

Eisenhofer has been described as a visionary architect<ref>Brown, Beverley. "Buried Treasures," ''The Independent on Sunday'', 24 April 2005, p. 34–36.</ref> who practised "uncompromised high-style modernism".<ref>Lloyd Jenkins, Douglas. ''At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design'' (Auckland: Random House, 2004), 228.</ref> He is noted for his stylish, modern design in 1964 of Suzy's Coffee Lounge in Willis Street, Wellington,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/documents/wellington-cafe-culture-archive.pdf |title=The impact of design and technology on Wellington café culture, from the 1930s milk bar to the 1960s coffee bar |first=Gábor |last=Tóth |date= |website= |publisher=New Zealand History Online |accessdate=16 January 2015}}</ref> which is the subject of the 1967 oil-on-hardboard painting, ''At Suzy's Coffee Lounge'', by [[Rita Angus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/exhibitions/RitaAngus/Artworks.aspx?irn=790 |title=At Suzy's Coffee Lounge |date= |website= |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |accessdate=16 January 2015}}</ref>

⚫
For much of his career, Eisenhofer's work has focused on [[solar gain]] and a relationship to the surrounding landscape.<ref>[http://fritz-eisenhofer.com/ Fritz Eisenhofer]</ref> His own home was dome-shaped, built four metres underground and made from [[ferroconcrete|ferro-cement]]. The large north-facing glass wall regulates the temperature by slowly heating the ground floor through summer. This heat is then gradually released during winter. Inside, the home has a swimming-pool and a tropical garden.<ref>[http://www.intlistings.com/articles/2008/25-incredible-personal-biodomes/ International Listings - 25 Incredible Personal Biodomes]</ref>

In the [[2010 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2010 New Year Honours]], Eisenhofer was appointed an [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] for services to architecture.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2010 | title=New Year honours list 2010|date=31 December 2009| publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref>

Eisenhofer died at his home at [[Peka Peka]] on 27 July 2023, at the age of 96.<ref name="Post obituary"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.legacy.com/nz/obituaries/dominion-post-nz/name/friedrich-eisenhofer-obituary?id=52624337 |title=Friedrich Eisenhofer obituary |date=5 August 2023 |work=[[The Post (New Zealand newspaper)|The Post]] |access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref> His wife, Helen Eisenhofer, died in October 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.legacy.com/nz/obituaries/thepost-nz/name/helen-eisenhofer-obituary?id=56637934 |title=Helen Eisenhofer obituary |date=29 October 2024 |work=[[The Post (New Zealand newspaper)|The Post]] |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

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| NAME = Eisenhofer, Friedrich
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisenhofer, Fritz}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisenhofer, Friedrich}}
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[[Category:New Zealand architects]]
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[[Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:New Zealand people of Austrian descent]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
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[[Category:2023 deaths]]
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[[Category:20th-century New Zealand architects]]
[[Category:People from Spittal an der Drau]]
[[Category:Austrian emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of New Zealand]]
⚫
[[Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:People from Waikanae]]
[[Category:Modernist architects]]

Latest revision as of 11:00, 23 November 2024

Fritz Eisenhofer
ONZM FNZIA
Eisenhofer in 2010
Born
Friedrich Eisenhofer

(1926-11-14)14 November 1926
Spittal an der Drau, Austria
Died27 July 2023(2023-07-27) (aged 96)
Peka Peka, New Zealand
CitizenshipNew Zealander
Alma materAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna
OccupationArchitect
Spouse
Helen Rickard
​
(m. 1955)​
PracticeWinkler and Eisenhofer
Design
  • Suzy's Coffee Lounge

Friedrich Eisenhofer ONZM (14 November 1926 – 27 July 2023) was a New Zealand modernist architect based in Waikanae.

Biography

[edit]

Eisenhofer was born in the Austrian town of Spittal an der Drau on 14 November 1926,[1] and studied architecture at the Kunstakademie in Vienna after the Second World War.

Lounge and dining room of a house designed by Eisenhofer, photographed by Duncan Winder in about December 1965

Eisenhofer emigrated to New Zealand in 1953 in a group of almost 200 skilled Austrian tradesmen contracted to build 500 pre-cut Austrian state houses in Tītahi Bay (Porirua).[2] After the completion of the project, Eisenhofer gained New Zealand residency and began working at the Department of Housing in Wellington. In the late 1950s he went into partnership with fellow Austrian architect Erwin Winkler, setting up practice at 108 Cuba Street, Wellington. Their style adhered to the principles of the modern movement, heavily influenced by architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Charles Eames.[3]

Eisenhofer married Helen Rickard in 1955, and the couple had three children.[4] Eisenhofer became a naturalised New Zealander in 1960.[1]

Eisenhofer has been described as a visionary architect[5] who practised "uncompromised high-style modernism".[6] He is noted for his stylish, modern design in 1964 of Suzy's Coffee Lounge in Willis Street, Wellington,[7] which is the subject of the 1967 oil-on-hardboard painting, At Suzy's Coffee Lounge, by Rita Angus.[8]

For much of his career, Eisenhofer's work has focused on solar gain and a relationship to the surrounding landscape.[9] His own home was dome-shaped, built four metres underground and made from ferro-cement. The large north-facing glass wall regulates the temperature by slowly heating the ground floor through summer. This heat is then gradually released during winter. Inside, the home has a swimming-pool and a tropical garden.[10]

In the 2010 New Year Honours, Eisenhofer was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to architecture.[11]

Eisenhofer died at his home at Peka Peka on 27 July 2023, at the age of 96.[4][12] His wife, Helen Eisenhofer, died in October 2024.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1968". Ancestry.com Operations. 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. ^ Wolfsberger, Margit (2012). "Österreichische Migration nach Neuseeland" [Austrian migration to New Zealand]. In Mückler, Hermann (ed.). Österreicher in der Südsee: Forscher, Reisende, Auswanderer [Austrians in the South Seas: Explorers, Travellers, Emigrants]. Austria: Forschung und Wissenschaft: Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie (in German). Vol. 1. Münster: LIT Verlag. p. 300. ISBN 9783643503909. Retrieved 18 August 2014. Neben kleineren Gruppen von ArbeitsmigrantInnen für Fabriksarbeiten oder in Krankenhäusern kamen zwischen 1952 und 1953 194 österreichische Handwerker nach Neuseeland, um ein staatliches Hausbauprojekt in Porirua, einem Nachbarort von Wellington, durchzuführen. [...] Diese Gruppenmigration war ursprünglich zeitlich befristet, ging allerdings nach Beendigung der Dreijahresverträge als 'Gastarbeiter' in individuelle Migration und den Verbleib im Migrationsland über.
  3. ^ Wells, Catherine. "Pleasuredome," New Zealand Home and Entertaining, Jun/Jul (2003): 66–70.
  4. ^ a b Boyack, Nicholas (26 August 2023). "Fritz Eisenhofer, a 'property porn' star and architect". The Post. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  5. ^ Brown, Beverley. "Buried Treasures," The Independent on Sunday, 24 April 2005, p. 34–36.
  6. ^ Lloyd Jenkins, Douglas. At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design (Auckland: Random House, 2004), 228.
  7. ^ Tóth, Gábor. "The impact of design and technology on Wellington café culture, from the 1930s milk bar to the 1960s coffee bar" (PDF). New Zealand History Online. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  8. ^ "At Suzy's Coffee Lounge". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ Fritz Eisenhofer
  10. ^ International Listings - 25 Incredible Personal Biodomes
  11. ^ "New Year honours list 2010". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Friedrich Eisenhofer obituary". The Post. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Helen Eisenhofer obituary". The Post. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
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