Overview

The Kaufmann House is an excellent example of the International Style, popular in the 1920s and 1930s. 

• Location: 20 Park Lane
• Neighborhood: Cedar-Isles-Dean

Historic profile

The Kaufmann House is an excellent example of the International Style, popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The home is two stories tall and overlooks the east shores of Cedar Lake. The house’s stucco walls, ribbon windows, flat roof, and balconies on each level were very modern for the time.

V. Mel Kaufmann was a salesman for the Pennsylvania Oil Company. His wife Henet worked for the government. They were inspired by the Modern architecture they saw at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. They had also studied the work of prominent architect Richard Neutra. With these guiding influences, they hired architect James Brunet to design the house. Brunet was a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota. Modern design was new in the curriculum. The Kaufmann House is a great example of the latest trends in architecture in this period.

The design evokes famous architect Le Corbusier’s idea of a house as a "machine for living." It was meant to be an efficient and functional space. As such, the Kaufmanns wanted the latest advances in plumbing, materials, and equipment.

After the house was built, the University brought architecture students over for field trips.