Mickey Muennig | |
---|---|
Born | George Kaye Muennig April 20, 1935
Joplin, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | June 10, 2021
Big Sur, California, U.S. | (aged 86)
Other names | G. K. “Mickey” Muennig, G. K. Muennig, George Kay Muennig |
Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
Occupation | Architect |
Movement | Organic architecture |
Mickey Muennig (born George Kaye Muennig; 1935–2021) was an American architect. [1] [2] He was known for this organic architecture in Big Sur, along the California coast. [1] [3]
George Kaye Muennig was born on April 20, 1935, in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. [4] He got his nickname Mickey, by his older sister, due to his outward semblance with Mickey Mouse. [1]
He began his college education at Georgia Institute of Technology, hoping to study aeronautical engineering. [1] After his first year of college he decided to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to study architecture under Bruce Goff, [1] and Herb Greene. [5]
"At a time when most architecture seems merely argumentative, these buildings (by Muennig) are relaxed and free, filled with...real joy."
– Michael Sorkin, architectural critic [6]
After graduation he had apprenticeships in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Long Beach, Mississippi. [4] In 1969, he moved to Denver for an architecture job that did not materialize and his family stayed in Denver until 1971.
In 1971, Muenning went to a two week Gestalt therapy class in the Big Sur at Esalen Institute, he described it as an enlightening experience and decide to stay a week longer. [4] He was able to blend his architectural design with the local materials, and create homes that felt like they were a part of Big Sur. [6] [7] He was a proponent of underground houses for both temperature control and fire proofing, as well as building on stilts. [6] [7] Many of his works have been described as "magical", "creative", or "visionary". [6] [7] Some of the houses had issues with livability according to Edward Bazinet, a client of Muenning's, as he had failed to plan for the need of furniture. [6]
The Post Ranch Inn, a luxury resort in Big Sur opened in April 1991. [8] Muenning's design work for the Post Ranch Inn featured buildings with geometric inspiration by animals (such as the butterfly), as well as towers and cylinders that are a nod to Bruce Goff. [9] The guest rooms were arranged in a village, made of individual small structures. [8] The hotel design was meant to not compete with the landscape, the hotel is located on a dramatic coastal bluff and had views of migrating whales in the Pacific Ocean. [9]
In 2000 and 2002, Architectural Digest had listed Muenning as one of the top 100 architects in the United States. [4] In 2005, the Monterey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored Muennig. [10]
Muennig died on June 10, 2021, at the age of 86 in Big Sur. [1] The Muennig archives are held at the University of Oklahoma, American School of Architecture Archive. [11] [12]
Mickey Muennig | |
---|---|
Born | George Kaye Muennig April 20, 1935
Joplin, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | June 10, 2021
Big Sur, California, U.S. | (aged 86)
Other names | G. K. “Mickey” Muennig, G. K. Muennig, George Kay Muennig |
Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
Occupation | Architect |
Movement | Organic architecture |
Mickey Muennig (born George Kaye Muennig; 1935–2021) was an American architect. [1] [2] He was known for this organic architecture in Big Sur, along the California coast. [1] [3]
George Kaye Muennig was born on April 20, 1935, in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. [4] He got his nickname Mickey, by his older sister, due to his outward semblance with Mickey Mouse. [1]
He began his college education at Georgia Institute of Technology, hoping to study aeronautical engineering. [1] After his first year of college he decided to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to study architecture under Bruce Goff, [1] and Herb Greene. [5]
"At a time when most architecture seems merely argumentative, these buildings (by Muennig) are relaxed and free, filled with...real joy."
– Michael Sorkin, architectural critic [6]
After graduation he had apprenticeships in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Long Beach, Mississippi. [4] In 1969, he moved to Denver for an architecture job that did not materialize and his family stayed in Denver until 1971.
In 1971, Muenning went to a two week Gestalt therapy class in the Big Sur at Esalen Institute, he described it as an enlightening experience and decide to stay a week longer. [4] He was able to blend his architectural design with the local materials, and create homes that felt like they were a part of Big Sur. [6] [7] He was a proponent of underground houses for both temperature control and fire proofing, as well as building on stilts. [6] [7] Many of his works have been described as "magical", "creative", or "visionary". [6] [7] Some of the houses had issues with livability according to Edward Bazinet, a client of Muenning's, as he had failed to plan for the need of furniture. [6]
The Post Ranch Inn, a luxury resort in Big Sur opened in April 1991. [8] Muenning's design work for the Post Ranch Inn featured buildings with geometric inspiration by animals (such as the butterfly), as well as towers and cylinders that are a nod to Bruce Goff. [9] The guest rooms were arranged in a village, made of individual small structures. [8] The hotel design was meant to not compete with the landscape, the hotel is located on a dramatic coastal bluff and had views of migrating whales in the Pacific Ocean. [9]
In 2000 and 2002, Architectural Digest had listed Muenning as one of the top 100 architects in the United States. [4] In 2005, the Monterey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored Muennig. [10]
Muennig died on June 10, 2021, at the age of 86 in Big Sur. [1] The Muennig archives are held at the University of Oklahoma, American School of Architecture Archive. [11] [12]