Harold Krantz
Harold Krantz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 February 1906 |
| Died | 8 March 1999 (aged 93) |
| Resting place | Karrakatta Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Years active | 1899–1974 |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Hope Powell
(m. 1933–1994) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Abraham Tobias Boas (grandfather) Harold Boas (uncle) Lionel Boas (uncle) |
Harold Krantz OBE (15 February 1906 – 8 March 1999) AO was an architect in Western Australia. He became a well-known in his adopted city of Perth, where it is believed that he designed around ninety percent of all apartment buildings in the city between the 1930s and 1960s.[1][2]
Early life
He was born in Adelaide to Russian Jewish immigrant parents.[2] His grandfather, Abraham Tobias Boas was the city's first rabbi, serving the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation. His uncle, Harold Boas also became a prominent architect and town planner in Perth in Western Australia.[2]
Career
After qualifying as an architect in Adelaide, he worked for the firm Woods, Bagot, Jory & Laybourne Smith.[2] As employment options became more limited for architects in South Australia at the time, he joined his uncle, Harold Boas in Perth to work at his firm, Oldham, Boas & Ednie-Brown. He registered as an architect in Western Australia in 1929, but for the next two years dedicated himself to running a commercial art business, the Poster Studios, established by Krantz, John Oldham and Colin Ednie-Brown. There, he also worked with the architect, Margaret Pitt Morison.[3][2]
He returned to architecture in 1931 and from the mid-1930s, he began designing smaller apartment blocks and conversions.[2]
In 1939, he began working with Viennese Jewish architect, Robert Schläfrig (later changed to Sheldon), who had fled antisemitism in Europe.[2] In 1946 they formed the firm, Krantz and Sheldon. In particular, the firm hired a high number of architects who had emigrated to Australia from Europe. They hired a number of arrivals at Fremantle Harbour, including Iwan Iwanoff.[4] This fostered more European-influenced design styles, deviating from the British and American norms that had dominated.[2]
He was a vocal defender of apartment living, denying that they would inevitably become "slums". In 1941 he wrote in the Architecture magazine about their positive economic and sociological attributes.[2]
In 1938 he designed the Nedland Tennis Clubhouse, where he was a member, opting for a functionalist style.[2]
In 1956, Krantz and Sheldon designed Wandana Flats in Subiaco for the State Housing Commission of Western Australia. The three-block complex was the first high-rise public housing project in Western Australia.[5]
His firm partner, Sheldon, died in 1968 and Krantz retired in 1972.[2]
Personal life
In December 1933, he married the actress, Dorothy Hope Powell, with whom he had two children.[2] His son, David, also became an architect and worked for his father's firm.[2] Dorothy died in 1994.[2]
Honours
In 1998, the City of Perth named him "Citizen of the Year". In the same year, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects made him a Life Fellow. He was nominated for the Order of Australia shortly before his death, with his son accepting the award posthumously on his behalf.[2]
References
- ^ PERTH APARTMENTS Museum of Perth. Retrieved on 3 August 2025
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harold Krantz OAM Taylor Architects. Retrieved on 3 August 2025
- ^ "Out-Of-The-Ruck Jobs for Wowmen". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 21 April 1933. p. 6 Edition: Late City. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ Crist, Graham (September 1993)Resetting a City University of Western Australia. Retrieved on 3 August 2025
- ^ Wandana State Housing Complex The Krantz Legacy. Retrieved on 3 August 2025