Ernst Plischke
Encyclopedia
Ernst Anton Plischke was an Austrian-New Zealand modernist architect
, town planner and furniture designer whose work is well known throughout Europe
and New Zealand
.
near Vienna
, Austria
in 1903 to a father that was an architect and a mother from a family of cabinet-makers. From an early age he spent time in workshops and studios, before going to study interior and furniture design at Vienna's College of Arts and Crafts.
At the age of twenty, influenced by his father to become an architect he was accepted into a Master School run by leading architect Peter Behrens
. His architecture as a student reflected the dynamic and repetitious nature of the early modernist style.
After graduating from the academy in 1926, Plischke worked in Peter Behren's private office, and in 1929 travelled to New York
to work but the start of the great depression
ruined this opportunity.
In 1930, he was commissioned to build the Labour Exchange building in Liesing
by the Austrian government. Completion of this in 1931 made him one of Austria's leading architects.
One of the Plischke's early houses The Gamerith House at Lake Attersee, foreshadows his later work in New Zealand. The house fits into the surrounding landscape and holds a boat-like quality.
In 1935, he was married to Anna Lang-Schwizer and awarded the Austrian State Prize for architecture.
In 1938, Germany
occupied Austria. German law meant that all architects had to become part of a centralised Chamber of Arts. Because his wife was Jewish, he was not accepted into the Chamber of Arts. This reason along with the banning of modernist buildings by the German occupation led Plischke to move to New Zealand in 1939.
, Trentham, Tamaki
and Mangakino
. He also completed private work during this time, including the Frankl House in Christchurch.
Plischke and his family struggled to integrate into New Zealand society, due to prejudices against their nationality at the time. Plischke found it harder to be accepted by New Zealand architects. He felt he was already a fully qualified architect and internationally renowned, and so wasn't prepared to take examinations to become a registered architect with the New Zealand Institute of Architects
.
In 1947, he applied to be chair of design at the School of Architecture at Auckland University College. He wasn't accepted, so as an unregistered architect he sought out a partnership with a registered architect. In 1948 he formed the 'Plishke & Firth' partnership with Cedric H. Firth. Massey House (1951–1957) located on Lambton Quay was their biggest project, with Plischke designing the concept due to Firth being abroad. The partnership ended in 1959 and Plischke joined Robert Fantl in another partnership, but with work drying up in the early 1960s Plischke accepted an academic role back in Vienna, Austria.
(1983), Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects
(1987) and Honorary Member of the Austrian Society of Architecture (1988).
Plischke died aged 89, in Vienna on 23 May 1992.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, town planner and furniture designer whose work is well known throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Early years
Plischke was born in the town of KlosterneuburgKlosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg is an attractive small town in Lower Austria, Austria with a population of 24,442.It is located on the Danube, immediately north of Vienna, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg hills...
near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1903 to a father that was an architect and a mother from a family of cabinet-makers. From an early age he spent time in workshops and studios, before going to study interior and furniture design at Vienna's College of Arts and Crafts.
At the age of twenty, influenced by his father to become an architect he was accepted into a Master School run by leading architect Peter Behrens
Peter Behrens
Peter Behrens was a German architect and designer. He was important for the modernist movement, as several of the movements leading names worked for him when they were young.-Biography:Behrens attended the Christianeum Hamburg from September 1877 until Easter 1882...
. His architecture as a student reflected the dynamic and repetitious nature of the early modernist style.
After graduating from the academy in 1926, Plischke worked in Peter Behren's private office, and in 1929 travelled to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work but the start of the great depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
ruined this opportunity.
In 1930, he was commissioned to build the Labour Exchange building in Liesing
Liesing
Liesing is the 23rd district of Vienna . It is on the southwest edge of Vienna, Austria.It was formed after Austria's Anschluss with Germany, when Vienna expanded from 21 districts to 26...
by the Austrian government. Completion of this in 1931 made him one of Austria's leading architects.
One of the Plischke's early houses The Gamerith House at Lake Attersee, foreshadows his later work in New Zealand. The house fits into the surrounding landscape and holds a boat-like quality.
In 1935, he was married to Anna Lang-Schwizer and awarded the Austrian State Prize for architecture.
In 1938, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupied Austria. German law meant that all architects had to become part of a centralised Chamber of Arts. Because his wife was Jewish, he was not accepted into the Chamber of Arts. This reason along with the banning of modernist buildings by the German occupation led Plischke to move to New Zealand in 1939.
New Zealand architect
When Plischke arrived in New Zealand in 1939 with his wife Anna, he was already known in architectural circles to be at the forefront of modernist design. He began working for the Ministry of Housing on projects such as the Dixon St Flats. From 1943–47 he worked for the Department of Town Planning producing work in areas including: NaenaeNaenae
Naenae is a suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in the North Island of New Zealand. It lies on the eastern edge of the floodplain of the Hutt River, four kilometres from the Lower Hutt Central business district. A small tributary of the Hutt, the Waiwhetu Stream, flows through the suburb.Naenae has a...
, Trentham, Tamaki
Tamaki, New Zealand
Tamaki is a small suburb of the city of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located in the east of the city, 11 kilometres from the city centre, by the banks of the estuarial Tamaki River, which is a southern arm of the Hauraki Gulf...
and Mangakino
Mangakino
Mangakino is a small town on the banks of the Waikato River in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the hydroelectric power station at Lake Maraetai, southeast of Hamilton. Its population in 2001 was 1257...
. He also completed private work during this time, including the Frankl House in Christchurch.
Plischke and his family struggled to integrate into New Zealand society, due to prejudices against their nationality at the time. Plischke found it harder to be accepted by New Zealand architects. He felt he was already a fully qualified architect and internationally renowned, and so wasn't prepared to take examinations to become a registered architect with the New Zealand Institute of Architects
New Zealand Institute of Architects
The New Zealand Institute of Architects is a membership based professional organisation. This body represents 90% of all registered architects in New Zealand and promotes architecture that enhances the New Zealand living environment....
.
In 1947, he applied to be chair of design at the School of Architecture at Auckland University College. He wasn't accepted, so as an unregistered architect he sought out a partnership with a registered architect. In 1948 he formed the 'Plishke & Firth' partnership with Cedric H. Firth. Massey House (1951–1957) located on Lambton Quay was their biggest project, with Plischke designing the concept due to Firth being abroad. The partnership ended in 1959 and Plischke joined Robert Fantl in another partnership, but with work drying up in the early 1960s Plischke accepted an academic role back in Vienna, Austria.
Back to Vienna
Leaving behind his adopted country, in 1963 Plischke took up the role of Professor of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Teaching and writing took up much of his time during the last decades of his life. A couple of significant books he wrote were Vom Menschlichen im neuen Bauen (‘On the human aspect in modern architecture’) and a Biography; Ernst A. Plischke; Ein Leben mit Architektur. Austria also rewarded him with a number of awards; Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and the Arts, First Class (1973) and the Golden Medal of Honor for Science and the Arts (1988). He was made Honorary Member of the Academy of Fine Arts ViennaAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
(1983), Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(1987) and Honorary Member of the Austrian Society of Architecture (1988).
Plischke died aged 89, in Vienna on 23 May 1992.