Gertrude Kerbis

Gertrude Lempp Kerbis (1926 – June 14, 2016) was an American architect. She worked for and studied under some of the most significant modernists of her day, including Carl Koch, Walter Gropius, and Mies Van Der Rohe.[1] She played a leading role in designing several major milestones in the development of American modernism, including the Lustron house, the US Air Force Academy, and the O'Hare International Airport rotunda. She went against the status quo of gender roles, shown by founding the Chicago Women in Architecture in 1973. Her passion for design and determination led to her wide range of projects and work experience.

Life/Education

She was born Gertrude Lempp in the Northwest side of Chicago, Illinois to two immigrant parents. Her father (Eugene Lempp) originated from Southern Germany, and her mother (Emma) from White Russia. Her childhood was rather poor even though her father labored his entire life. After graduating from Foreman High School she started her educational career at Wright Community College, but transferred to University of Wisconsin when her family briefly moved to Wisconsin. There she was first introduced to architecture through an article by Frank Lloyd Wright.[2] She was inspired to pursue architecture, but as there wasn’t a program at the University of Wisconsin, she transferred to the University of Illinois in 1948 where she did her undergrad degree in architectural engineering. After, she went to the Harvard Graduate School of Design with Walter Gropius from 1949-1950. In 1954 she received her masters at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL, where she studied under Mies van der Rohe. As a student there, she married Walter Peterhans and had a child named Julian. They divorced and later she married noted Tennis Professional Donald Kerbis who brought his baby daughter Lisa Kerbis into the family. Together Gertrude and Donald had another child named Kim.

Career

Jobs

Her first job, while at Harvard, was working in the studio of Carl Koch, a teacher at MIT. After graduation in 1954 she worked at the office of Skidmore, Owings, and Merill until 1959.[1] She then worked for Naess and Murphy from 1959-1962, and then from 1965-1967. She started her own firm in 1967. Throughout she taught at Harper Community College in Palatine, IL for 25 years total.

Inspirations

Projects

Awards

Groups

- American Institute of Architects[7]

- Founded Chicago Women in Architecture in 1973[8]

- Cliff Dwellers, Chicago, first female president

- Chicago Architectural club

Design Style

Gertrude Kerbis was inspired by, worked for, and studied under some of the most significant mid-century modernists of her day including Frank Lloyd Wright, Carl Koch, Walter Gropius, and Mies Van Der Rohe. Their styles are evident in many of the works Gertrude Kerbis designed. Just as Mies Van Der Rohe created a style of minimal framework of structural order and architecture that was balanced against free flowing space, the Rotunda Building takes a similar approach in style inspired by Mies. Influence from her teacher, Walter Gropius, is seen in the simplistic and aesthetically pleasing, yet functional design of Mitchell Hall, the US Air Force Academy dining hall. These design style choices placed her in the category of mid-century modernism.

References

  1. 1 2 Berke, Arnold. "Chicago's First Lady of Modernism - National Trust for Historic Preservation." Preservationnation.org. National Trust Organization, 22 Mar. 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
  2. ↑ Blum, Betty J. "Gertrude Kerbis (b. 1926)." The Art Institute of Chicago. Estate of Norman Schlossman, 21 May 1996. Web. 15 Oct. 2015
  3. ↑ Seed, Suzanne (March 1974). Saturday's Child : 36 women talk about their jobs. Bantam Books. p. 5. OCLC 5462796.
  4. ↑ Rodkin, Dennis. "Gertrude Lempp Kerbis’s Greenhouse Condos." Chicago Magazine Real Estate Neighborhoods. Chicago Magazine, 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
  5. ↑ Carter, Karen. "Gertrude Lempp Kerbis: Modern Architect." Vimeo. N.p., 2013. 30 Oct. 2015.
  6. ↑ "History." Chicago Women in Architecture. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015
  7. ↑ Kerbis, Gertrude. "Kerbis, Gertrude,." "Solo Development" Charles Sappenfield, 26 Jan. 1976. Audio. 15 Oct. 2015.
  8. ↑ "BWAF Blog: Looking Back, Looking Ahead - Chicago Women in Architecture Celebrates 40 Years - Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation." Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. BWAF, 27 June 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2015
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