Carl Auböck III (1924-1993)
Carl "Jackie" Auböck III was born in 1924, the only child of Bauhaus alumni Carl Auböck II and Mara Uckunowa. Born into the Auböck Werkstatte, Auböck III began his apprenticeship at the family workshop after high school and in 1943 passed his examination for master girdler (beltmaking) and metal chaser. From 1943 to 1949, Auböck III studied architecture at the Technical University Vienna. In 1952 he traveled to the United States as a post-graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to further his knowledge of pre-fabrication techniques. While in America he met with Bauhaus founder and family friend, Walter Gropius as well as Benjamin Thompson, Herbert Bayer, and George Nelson. He traveled to the West Coast to meet the iconic design duo, Charles and Ray Eames. Charles Eames was a trained architect and designer; his wife, Ray Eames, a trained painter had studied under Hans Hoffman, as did Carl III's mother, Mara. The Eames had fine-tuned their production methods during their time as contractors in support of the US government's war efforts during WWII and had successfully transitioned back to their passion for designing and producing furnishings for post-war civilian life and institutional use. The young Carl III was undoubtedly influenced by these interactions and they would help shape the future of the Werkstätte in Vienna and solidify his lifelong interest in industrial design. Carl Auböck III would return to the Viennese Werkstätte and share his adventures and new design ideas with his father. This enthusiasm would spark a collaborative relationship between the father and son that would lead to one of the most productive design periods in the Werkstätte's history.
During his 1952 trip to America, it is unclear if Carl Auböck III visited with his Aunt Valerie and Uncle Louis in Pennsylvania. What is clear is that in 1952, correspondences transpired between them regarding the design of a new home to be built in Uniontown, PA. Letters reveal conversations regarding the finest details of the home. From the stonework to the floorings to the furniture, Carl Auböck III lovingly answers Valerie and Louis Gallet's questions, listens to their needs, and guides the couple through his rationale. This family collaboration would produce Carl Auböck III's first recognized architectural project, The Gallet Residence completed in 1954. The importance of Valerie Auböck Gallet to her family in Vienna is on full display in a heartfelt letter from Carl Auböck III to his Aunt where he states, "I really enjoy planning a house for you. Please do not feel obligated in any way to pay me anything. We owe you all so much for your help in the post-war period that no amount of work could repay you. By the way, thank you very much for the black sweater which is really great and fits wonderfully -really fantastic quality. I'm very proud of it and tell everyone, "This is from my Aunt in America"."
Upon the death of Carl Auböck II in 1957, Carl Auböck III and his wife Justine took over operations of the Werkstätte with Carl adding to the catalog of collections while Justine took the reins of marketing and representing the Werkstätte Carl Auböck brand of merchandise at trade shows throughout the world.
Carl Auböck III had a prolific architectural and design career and received many accolades throughout his life. View his CV found in the Gallet family archives here.
In 1993, Carl Auböck III passed away at the age of 69 leaving his wife Justine and two children, Maria and Carl IV to carry on the Werkstätte legacy.