Aluminaire House – Albert Frey
Albert Frey (1903–1998), a Swiss-born architect, is recognized as one of the key figures in the growth of desert modernism in the Californian Palm Springs area. After moving to New York, Frey brought a particular European sensibility to his work, having trained under such giants as Le Corbusier. Frey significantly influenced the American modernist style while working with American architect A. Lawrence Kocher. In fact, their collaboration resulted in the groundbreaking example of modern architecture known as the Aluminaire House, which was built in 1931.
The Aluminaire House, designed as a prototype for mass production, demonstrated a cutting-edge utilization of materials, mainly glass and aluminum. Its modern, three-story building caught the public’s attention with its avant-garde design and was constructed in ten days. When the Aluminaire House was first unveiled by the Architectural League of New York and Allied Arts and Industries, it was highly praised and attracted more than 100,000 people in its short display time.
The Aluminaire House, created by Kocher and Frey, was a significant feat of modernist architecture. Because it was the country’s first all-metal home, its significance rippled across the architectural community. Its inclusion in the annals of architectural history was cemented in 1932 when it was prominently included in the prestigious exhibition “The International Style—Architecture Since 1922” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
