Liane Juliane Angela Zimbler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liane_Zimbler

Liane Zimbler, née Juliana Fischer, (31 May 1892, Přerov, Moravia – 11 November 1987, Los Angeles) is said to be the first European woman to obtain an architecture degree, although a number of Finns, including Signe Hornborg, graduated much earlier. After running a highly successful business in Vienna, Zimbler emigrated to the United States in 1938 where she specialized in interior design.

Zimbler first studied graphics, then architecture at the Arts School in Vienna. While still studying, she worked as an illustrator and designer for Emilie Flöge's salon. In 1916, she married the lawyer Otto Zimbler with whom she had a daughter, Eva. The same year, she began to work for the Bamberger furniture factory in Vienna. Towards the end of the First World War, she joined the Rosenberger design studio in Vienna as an architect. In the early 1920s, she started her own firm, specializing in conversion, renovation and interior decoration work. By 1928, as a result of her prospering business, Zimbler was able to open a second studio in Prague managed by her associate Annie Herrnheiser. She also began to lecture in Vienna while participating in various organisations in support of working women. She became known for her one-room apartments and studios, an expanding niche market for the middle classes. Notable projects in Vienna included a villa in Silbergasse, refurbishment of the Ephrussi Bank and several interior decoration projects. She also served as chairman of the Austrian board of the International Housing Society and lectured on the sociological and artistic aspects of housing.

In February 1938, Zimbler became the first woman in Austria to be granted a civil architect's licence. Very shortly afterwards, thanks to Otto Zimbler's influential contacts, the family was able to leave for the Netherlands and London before the German Anschluss in March. That autumn they were able to emigrate to the United States. Thanks to the involvement of Ada Gomperz, wife of the philosopher Heinrich Gomperz, Zimbler then settled in Los Angeles, where she worked on interior design at Anita Toor's office. After her husband died in an accident and Anita Toor herself died, Zimbler took over the firm around 1941, again concentrating on conversion and decoration projects. She also designed a number of new buildings and regularly took part in exhibitions. Zimbler frequently lectured and wrote articles on interior design for architecture and design periodicals as well as for newspapers including the Los Angeles Times. Her daughter, Eva, who joined her as an apprentice in 1958, became her associate. Zimbler continued to work until well into her seventies. She died in Los Angeles in 1987 at the age of 95.

Zimbler was a member of the American Institute of Interior Designers and the Association of Women in Architecture.

Subject: How my mother and her family decided to move to LA Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 14:32:16 -0700 From: Fred Huebscher <drslate@verizon.net> Reply-To: drslate@verizon.net

My grandmother, Liane Zimbler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liane_Zimbler), was an architect in Austria and very involved in women's professional organizations including the Business and Professional Women's Club. The rules of this organization were that each chapter could have one member per profession so my grandmother was the architect member of her club. However, another female architect want to join as well, Ada Gomperz. Mrs. Gomperz joined under some other profession like industrial designer (I really don't know.). Mrs. Gomperz's husband, Heinrich Gomperz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomperz), was a philosopher and professor at the University of Vienna. In the mid 1930's, Austria's fascistic dictatorship decided to purge Nazis from government jobs and so the University of Vienna fired their Nazi professors. However, Professor Gomperz, who was Jewish, and some of his other colleagues signed a petition protesting this invasion of academic freedom. And as my mother said, "They promptly pensioned off Professor Gomperz." However, this pension was not enough for the Gomperzes to live on, so Professor Gomperz got a job teaching at USC here in LA. He would spend 6 months here and 6 months in Vienna. During their 6 months residence in Vienna, my grandmother would see Mrs. Gomperz who told her how nice the climate etc. was in LA. Mrs. Gomperz also told my grandmother that the US had washing machines and dishwashers and my grandmother replied "What do I need them for? I have Marie the laundress and Maria the cook." Anyhow, since my grandparents knew the Gomperzes and the Gomperzes had recommended LA, my grandparents and mother immigrated to the US and LA in September 1938 in time for my mother to enroll at Manual Arts High School. And until about a year and a half ago, she still had a friend who she knew from Manual Arts. -- Fred Huebscher 310-374-0568 www.politicalscientists.com