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Draft:William V. Kaeser

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William V. Kaeser (1906-1995) was an American architect and the first city planner for the city of Madison, Wisconsin[1]. A contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, Kaeser designed in the Usonian style, drafting buildings that appear to spring organically from the terrain[2]. His buildings are found primarily in the area surrounding Madison, Wisconsin, with a number of his works contributing to the National Register of Historic Places. He has repeatedly been called "one of the cities most distinguished modern architects."[3] Kaeser's work contributes to multiple historic districts, including the College Hills Historic District, Shorewood Historic District, Nakoma Historic District, and Sunset Hills District. His work is mainly residential, although he also designed churches, a Hillel International building,[4] the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison[5], multiple schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District, and the park shelter for Tenney Park , among others.

Architecture[edit]

Kaeser houses are often made of limestone walls with horizontal board and batton. He favored dark brown wood for accents[6]. Molding his designs in the vein of Frank Lloyd Wright, he tended to employ geometric designs like triangles and squares, repeating them throughout his houses and eaves. Kaeser paid special attention to Terraced landscaping outside of the structures, ensuring the structures appear to grow organically from the earth[6]. They often feature bands of windows, wide overhanging eaves, shallow-pitched hip main roofs, and massive masonry chimneys.

Notable houses include the Philip H. and Margaret Gray Jr. House, which is on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places. [7] The house was constructed in 1940 and was described as "the largest and one of the finest Modern Movement style houses" in its nomination to the state. Other houses, including the Kaeser house at 3505 Blackhawk can be found in the Shorewood Historic District.[8]

Personal Life[edit]

Kaeser was born on a farm in Greenvillie, Illinois to his father William G. and mother Clara (Vogt) Kaeser[9]. Graduating from Greenville High School in 1924. He studied architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while spending summers working under architect Frank M. Riley. He graduated in 1931 with a Bachelors degree. Afterwards, he obtained his masters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before working for Eliel Saarinen at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan[10]. He moved to Madison in 1935, where he opened up the architectural practice where he would work until his death in 1995[3]. In 1951, Kaeser affiliated with Arthur McLeod, a structural engineer, in the firm of Kaeser & McLeod, later Kaeser, McLeod, & Weston.[11] Kaeser was a director of the Wisconsin Architects Association [12]. The Center for Limnology has a scholarship named after him.[13]

Selected Works[edit]

  • Dr. James & Jane Wilkie House (1938), 3909 Euclid Ave.[22]
  • Russel Hibbard House (1939), 1505 Wood Ln. [23]
  • 3408 Circle Close
  • 3830 Cherokee Drive (1936)
  • Tenney Pavillion
  • Vilas Pavillion
  • 2715 Van Hise Ave (1942)[24]
  • Raymond P. and Marianne Sweeney House; 4306 Waite Cir, (1960)[25]
  • Fred Runkel House[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Shorewood Hills". Issuu. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  2. ^ Biebel, Anne E. (1985). "The Residential Architecture of William V. Kaeser".
  3. ^ a b Heggland, Timothy (1997). "The Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood: A Walking Tour" (PDF). cityofmadison.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, Bnai Brith Hillel Foundation, Madison, Dane, WI, REF 101889. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI101889
  5. ^ Helminiak, Jon. "William V. Kaeser ... Architect of the University of Wisconsin Laboratory of Limnology" (PDF). Limnology - University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  6. ^ a b pls4e (2018-08-01). "William V. Kaeser House and Studio". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. Retrieved 2024-06-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "New to the National and State Registers". Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  8. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, Frederick Kaeser II House, Shorewood Hills, Dane County, Wisconsin, Ref 5761. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI5761
  9. ^ "Family tree of William Vogt Kaeser". Geneanet. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  10. ^ Biebel, Anne (1985). The Residential Architecture of William V. Kaeser.
  11. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Sunset hills Historic District". National Park Service.
  12. ^ "Wisconsin Architects Association Board Elects Officers, Appoints Committees, Plans Summer Caucus at March Regular Meeting" (PDF). The Wisconsin Architect. May 1953.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Center for Limnology
  14. ^ "New to the National and State Registers". 30 January 2022.
  15. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, Philip H. and Margaret Gray, Jr. House, Madison, Dane, WI, REF 237579. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI237579
  16. ^ "Hasler Lab". Center for Limnology. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  17. ^ "CUNA Mutual: At Home in Madison". Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  18. ^ M, Kathryn (2019-09-19). "Porter Butts House by William Kaeser". Dwell. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  19. ^ "326 S SEGOE RD | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  20. ^ "French House". Department of French & Italian. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  21. ^ "3505 BLACKHAWK DR | Property Record". January 2012.
  22. ^ Penzkover, Leah (January 2012). "3909 EUCLID AVE Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society.
  23. ^ pls4e (2018-08-01). "Russell Hibbard House". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. Retrieved 2024-06-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, William V. & Marian Kaeser Residence, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, Ref 114161. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI114161
  25. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, Raymond P. & Marian Sweeny House, Madison, Dane County, WI, REF 114873. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI114873
  26. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, FRED RUNKEL HOUSE, Maple Bluff, Dane, WI, REF 5413. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI5413

[1]

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