Hugo Kafka
Encyclopedia
Hugo Kafka, AIA, was an Czech-American architect and founding associate of the predecessor firm of Alfred B. Mullett & Sons, as well as William Scheckel & Company; he ran his own firm, Hugo Kafka in the early twentieth century, later renamed Hugo Kafka & Sons.
in 1874 to work with Hermann Schwartzmann, architect-in-chief for the buildings of the Centennial Exposition, and practiced in New York City from 1877 to 1903." He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1876 and a founding associate of the predecessor firm of Alfred B. Mullett & Sons, with Alfred B. Mullett
and William G. Steinmetz
in 1882. In 1885 along with J. William Schickel
(1850–1907) and Isaac E. Ditmars
(1850–1934), he was a founding associate of William Scheckel & Company, which later became Scheckel & Ditmars. He died April 28, 1913 in New Rochelle, New York
. Working for himself in the twentieth century, his firm's address was at 99 Nassau Street; the firm's name was Hugo Kafka, and Hugo Kafka & Sons after 1905 at 34 W 26th Street.
One of his finest house designs is the Leonard and Annie Weiderer House (1887–1888), 387 St. Paul's Avenue (formerly Mud Lane), Staten Island, New York City, a three-story 4500 square feet (418.1 m²) Queen Anne-style mansion of 24-room, including eight bedrooms, two kitchens and six fireplaces, each of a different design. It was built by the German-born beer baron named George Bechtel
as a bridal gift to his daughter Annie on her marriage to Leonard Weiderer.
He died April 28, 1915, aged 70, at his home at 49 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, New York
.
Life
Kafka was born in 1843 in Austria-Hungary, "graduated from the Polytechnikum in Zurich, Switzerland studying under Gottfried Semper. He came to Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1874 to work with Hermann Schwartzmann, architect-in-chief for the buildings of the Centennial Exposition, and practiced in New York City from 1877 to 1903." He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1876 and a founding associate of the predecessor firm of Alfred B. Mullett & Sons, with Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred Bult Mullett was an American architect who served from 1866 to 1874 as Supervising Architect, head of the agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings...
and William G. Steinmetz
William G. Steinmetz
William G. Steinmetz, AIA, was an American architect who practiced in New York City as a founding associate of A.B. Mullet & Company with Alfred Bult Mullett and Hugo Kafka before the former founded Alfred B...
in 1882. In 1885 along with J. William Schickel
J. William Schickel
J. William Schickel, FAIA, known professionally as William Schickel, was a German-American architect and founder of the New York architectural firm of Schickel & Ditmars.-Life and practice:...
(1850–1907) and Isaac E. Ditmars
Isaac E. Ditmars
Isaac E. Ditmars, FAIA, was an Canadian-American architect and founding associate of William Schickel & Company, and directed that company as Schickel & Ditmars from 1907 into the 1920s...
(1850–1934), he was a founding associate of William Scheckel & Company, which later became Scheckel & Ditmars. He died April 28, 1913 in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. Working for himself in the twentieth century, his firm's address was at 99 Nassau Street; the firm's name was Hugo Kafka, and Hugo Kafka & Sons after 1905 at 34 W 26th Street.
One of his finest house designs is the Leonard and Annie Weiderer House (1887–1888), 387 St. Paul's Avenue (formerly Mud Lane), Staten Island, New York City, a three-story 4500 square feet (418.1 m²) Queen Anne-style mansion of 24-room, including eight bedrooms, two kitchens and six fireplaces, each of a different design. It was built by the German-born beer baron named George Bechtel
George Bechtel
George A. Bechtel was an American right fielder and pitcher in professional baseball's early history who became one of the leading players of his era...
as a bridal gift to his daughter Annie on her marriage to Leonard Weiderer.
He died April 28, 1915, aged 70, at his home at 49 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
.
Works
- Leonard and Annie Weiderer House (1887–1888), 387 St. Paul's Avenue, Staten Island
- 153-155 43rd Street (1903), a 12-story brick and stone hotel, built for the estate of Ogden Goelet for $210,000
- 100 W Amsterdam Avenue and 176th Street (1905), four five-story brick and stone tenements built for Winslow Realty Co. for $160,000.
- Mill