Henri-Louis Wakker
Encyclopedia
Henri-Louis Wakker (18 March 1875 – 17 March 1972) was a Swiss banker and real estate entrepreneur
. His will provided a considerable sum of money without conditions to the Swiss Heritage Society
, which in 1972 created the Wakker Prize
in his honor. It is awarded yearly for the development and preservation architectural heritage in Switzerland.
He was born in Geneva
, Switzerland
, the son of a watchmaker. He attended high school there, where he learned German. In 1905, he was appointed bank director at a bank in Cairo
, Egypt
, but returned home in 1911. It was then that he opened a real estate
office, which dealt with the purchase, sale and disposition of land and houses, as well as estate management.
In 1929, he planned with his friends Henri Honegger, the architect
Maurice Bralliard, and Henri Vial a series of trendy housing developments in the Eaux-Vives neighborhood of Geneva. The economic crisis of the time, however, only allowed the construction of the smallest of four properties, the "Square de Monchoisy". In 1936, he had, with Charles Bralliard and Jean-Frédéric Rouiller, created a detailed plan for construction of a crossing of the harbor of Geneva. While it was rejected at the time, it has recently seen reconsideration. In 1955, after 80 years in the real estate trade, he retired.
Henri-Louis Wakker was an avid mountain climber and especially loved the Swiss Alps
and the mountains of central Switzerland, with a special fondness for the cities and towns of this area.
He died one day before his 97th birthday, 17 March 1972. He left a considerable sum of money to the Swiss Heritage Society without any conditions. The Executive Board of the Society decided to use the money to fund the Wakker Prize
, which is given annually to Swiss municipalities for excellence in cultural and architectural heritage development, and for fostering such development for the future. The prize is 20,000 Swiss Francs. In 2009, it was awarded to the Yverdon-les-Bains
region.
(End of translated section.)
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. His will provided a considerable sum of money without conditions to the Swiss Heritage Society
Swiss Heritage Society
The Swiss Heritage Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of Switzerland’s architectural heritage. Its focus is on the preservation of important landmarks, the development of the structural environment, and the promotion of good architectural design.The SHS was founded...
, which in 1972 created the Wakker Prize
Wakker Prize
The Wakker Prize is awarded annually by the Swiss Heritage Society to a Municipality of Switzerland for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage....
in his honor. It is awarded yearly for the development and preservation architectural heritage in Switzerland.
Biography
(The following was taken from a web page in German, and used several translators to glean information here in English. Because of the inaccuracies of online electronic translators, some of the information may be misspelled or inaccurate. Any help with updates or corrections is appreciated.)He was born in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the son of a watchmaker. He attended high school there, where he learned German. In 1905, he was appointed bank director at a bank in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, but returned home in 1911. It was then that he opened a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
office, which dealt with the purchase, sale and disposition of land and houses, as well as estate management.
In 1929, he planned with his friends Henri Honegger, the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Maurice Bralliard, and Henri Vial a series of trendy housing developments in the Eaux-Vives neighborhood of Geneva. The economic crisis of the time, however, only allowed the construction of the smallest of four properties, the "Square de Monchoisy". In 1936, he had, with Charles Bralliard and Jean-Frédéric Rouiller, created a detailed plan for construction of a crossing of the harbor of Geneva. While it was rejected at the time, it has recently seen reconsideration. In 1955, after 80 years in the real estate trade, he retired.
Henri-Louis Wakker was an avid mountain climber and especially loved the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
and the mountains of central Switzerland, with a special fondness for the cities and towns of this area.
He died one day before his 97th birthday, 17 March 1972. He left a considerable sum of money to the Swiss Heritage Society without any conditions. The Executive Board of the Society decided to use the money to fund the Wakker Prize
Wakker Prize
The Wakker Prize is awarded annually by the Swiss Heritage Society to a Municipality of Switzerland for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage....
, which is given annually to Swiss municipalities for excellence in cultural and architectural heritage development, and for fostering such development for the future. The prize is 20,000 Swiss Francs. In 2009, it was awarded to the Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district...
region.
(End of translated section.)