Description

William Adair Bernoudy (1910-1988) was a leading advocate of Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern organic architecture and a widely admired St. Louis architect. Born in St. Louis, Bernoudy first attended the Washington University in St. Louis School of Architecture before studying under Frank Lloyd Wright as one of forty charter Taliesin Fellowship apprentices between October, 1932 and September, 1935. Returning to St. Louis, Bernoudy then spent several years doing various jobs before teaming up with architect Edouard Mutrux in 1938 and beginning his fifty-year architectural career.

Bernoudy was known for his skill in designing houses that harmonized with the local environment and terrain. He designed more than one hundred new structures, including the Pulitzer pool and pavilion, the Guthrie house, the Williams villa, as well as Bernoudy’s own house. He also designed numerous renovations and additions to existing structures and was well known for his landscape designs.

Bernoudy’s wife, Gertrude, was a very talented and avid art collector, and played a vital role in Bernoudy’s life and career. Together they had an immense influence on the cultural life of St. Louis – a community to which they devoted their lives.

John C. Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP will present the life and works of William Adair Bernoudy, FAIA , including the Taliesin Fellowship (1932-1935), the Talbot Residence (1939); Pulitzer Pool & Pavilion (1948, 1951), Bernoudy residence (1950, 1956), Schweiss Residence (1950), Close Residence (1953), Grand residence (1956), First Methodist Church (1960), Temple Emmanuel (1961), Wolfson Residence (1965), Beaumont Pavilion (1965), Kiener Memorial Entrance Gate, St. Louis Zoo (1966), Williams Residence (1966), Yalem Pavilion (1971), United Missouri Bank of Ferguson (1974), Michael Pulitzer Residence (1975), Millard Residence (1977-1978), McLaughlin Residence (1983), and the Sommer Vacation Residence (1985).