{{Short description|American architect and educator (1925–2004)}}{{For|the French general|Marie Pierre Koenig}} {{Infobox architect | name = Pierre Francis Koenig | image = Pierre_Koenig.png | image_size = <!-- if image is smaller than 250px --> | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|10|17}} | birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|04|04|1925|10|17}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | nationality = | alma_mater = University of Southern California | influences = | influenced = | practice = | significant_buildings = {{Unbulleted list|Case Study House #21|Case Study House #22}} | significant_projects = | significant_design = | awards = }} right|thumb|Case Study House #21, Los Angeles right|thumb|Case Study House #22, Los Angeles '''Pierre Francis Koenig''' (October 17, 1925 &ndash; April 4, 2004) was an American architect and a Professor of Architecture at the University of Southern California. He taught at the USC School of Architecture from 1964 until his death in 2004. He was the director of the undergraduate building science program from 1980 to 2004. He lectured widely at other universities, and received more than 20 awards for his work.<ref>[https://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/slide/koenig/bio.html USC University biography website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922170452/http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/slide/koenig/bio.html |date=2016-09-22 }}.</ref> The architecture of Pierre Koenig was the subject of the book ''Pierre Koenig'' written by James Steele in 1998.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Pierre_Koenig.html?id=qu1PAAAAMAAJ Pierre Koenig], by James Steele, Phaidon Press, 1998.</ref> Also in 1998, Koenig was elevated to "Distinguished Professor" after 35 years on the USC faculty.<ref>[http://news.usc.edu/8902/Koenig-The-Master-Builder-as-Master-Teacher Koenig: The Master Builder as Master Teacher] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801120312/http://news.usc.edu/8902/Koenig-The-Master-Builder-as-Master-Teacher/ |date=2017-08-01 }}.</ref> He received the USC Distinguished Alumni Award and the Gold Medal from the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects.<ref>[https://news.usc.edu/7951/L-A-Architects-Group-Honors-3-USC-Faculty/ USC News: Koenig received AIA Los Angeles Gold Medal].</ref>

== Early life == The son of a salesman, Koenig was born in San Francisco. The family moved to Southern California in 1939.<ref name=nytimes>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/07/business/pierre-koenig-architect-78-in-los-angeles.html Pierre Koenig, Architect, 78, In Los Angeles] ''New York Times'', April 7, 2004.</ref> After returning from a four-year tour in the Army during World War II, he enrolled in architecture school. He received his Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree from USC in 1952.<ref name=nytimes />

==Career== Koenig worked with Raphael Soriano and Edward H. Fickett among others, and began private practice in 1952.<ref>[https://www.laconservancy.org/architects/pierre-koenig Pierre Koenig biography] by the Los Angeles Conservancy.</ref> Koenig practiced mainly on the West Coast and was most notable for the design of the Case Study Houses No. 21 and 22 in 1960. Both 21 (the Bailey House) and 22 (the Stahl House) were constructed on dramatic, otherwise-unbuildable sites.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-06-me-koenig6-story.html |first=Nicolai |last=Ouroussoff |author-link=Nicolai Ouroussoff |title=Pierre Koenig, 78; Architect's Designs Personify Modernism |work=Los Angeles Times |date=6 April 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.getty.edu/cona/CONAFullSubject.aspx?subid=700000121 |title=Pierre Koenig papers and drawings, 1925-2007 |journal=Getty Research Institute |publisher=J. Paul Getty Trust}}</ref> Particularly the Case Study House #22, photographed by Julius Shulman, is widely considered the iconic postwar L.A. home, with its sweeping city views and openness to the outdoors.<ref name=brown>Eryn Brown (August 4, 2005), [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-04-hm-lafetra4-story.html A Modern dream come true] ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref>

At USC, Koenig led the undergraduate building science program and helped direct the Natural Forces Laboratory created by Ralph Lewis Knowles. The Building Science group at USC also included Knowles, Douglas E. Noble, Marc Schiler, Karen M. Kensek, Goetz Schierle, David Brindle, and Konrad Wachsmann.

Koenig died of leukemia in 2004 at 78.<ref name=brown /> He was survived by his wife, Gloria; sons, Randall and Jean Pierre; and two stepsons, Barry and Thomas Kaufman.<ref name=nytimes />

In 2007, Koenig's Case Study House #21 sold at auction for $3.1 million.<ref>Stacie Stukin (October 7, 2007), [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/style/tmagazine/07safe.html Safe Houses] ''T: The New York Times Style Magazine''.</ref> His personal residence in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles was built in 1985. After a restoration overseen by his stepsons, the steel and glass residence went up for sale in 2017 for $3.8 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mandell |first1=Lisa Johnson |title=Architect Pierre Koenig's Personal Residence Hits Market for First Time |url=https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/pierre-koenigs-personal-residence/ |website=Realtor.com |date=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|3}}

==External links== *[http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/slide/koenig/ Pierre Koenig's website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050906033457/http://www.jetsetmodern.com/koenigarticle.htm Koenig tribute page at Jet Set modern] *[http://www.ArchitectureWeek.com/2004/0421/index.html Koenig remembrance at ArchitectureWeek] *Finding aid for Pierre Koenig drawings and papers Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Accession No. 2006.M.30. *[https://beyondshelter.com/la-canada-mid-century-home/ The Squire House] A unique example of Pierre Koenig’s early work in La Canada

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Koenig, Pierre}} Category:1925 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Modernist architects from the United States Category:USC School of Architecture alumni Category:Architects from Los Angeles Category:Architects from San Francisco Category:20th-century American architects