Nationality Austrian Name Kaspar Albrecht | Died March 25, 1970 Known for Waelderhaus | |
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Born August 22, 1889 Au, Vorarlberg, Austria Occupation Architect and Sculpture | ||
Kaspar Albrecht (August 22, 1889 – March 25, 1970) was an Austrian architect and sculptor.
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Biography
Kaspar Albrecht grew up in a large family in Rehmen, Austria in rather poor conditions in Bregenzerwald. He attended the State Trade School in Innsbruck from 1906 to 1910 to begin his artistic training. He then studied in Munich at the Municipal Commercial School and in Vienna with Josef Muellner at the Academy of Fine Arts . In addition to the sculptural work, he was also active architecturally.
During World War I, he was a lieutenant in the Tyrolean Kaiserjaeger for three years and was decorated with the Gold Medal of Courage, the highest award of its kind presented by the Austrian Army.
In 1920 an extensive remodeling and additions to the John Michael Kohler House were designed by Richard Philipp. Albrect was involved with the design and creation of the decorative stained and leaded windows and glass cabinet doors.
As an architect, his biggest job was the Waelderhaus in Kohler Village, Wisconsin (USA). John Michael Kohler, the father of the industrialist Walter Jodok Kohler also came from the Bregenzerwald. In addition to designing the Waelderhaus, Mr. Albrecht supervised construction from 1929 to 1931 and personally executed the many artistic pottery reliefs, wood cuts, maps, stained glass windows, tapestry designs, bronze statues, and other handiwork.
In 1951, he was Member of the National Geographic Society (US).
Albrecht returned to Kohler in 1957 when he executed the bronze sculptured panel in the foyer of Kohler Memorial Theater. At this time he also created the life-sized figure of Old Abe the bald eagle that was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. The figure was carved in basswood.
In 1961 he received the honorary award and in 1968 the silver decorations of Vorarlberg.