Graduate engineer Hubert Taferner from Eferding was known far beyond the national borders as an architect, and yet his family was the most important thing for him. Born in Judenburg, he studied in Graz, gained a lot of experience during an internship in Switzerland, but soon came to Upper Austria. It was here in Linz that he not only set up his office, but also met his wife Eva-Maria.
The center of her life was Eferding, where four daughters made him “a family man full of happiness”, as he once revealed. Hubert Taferner was an artist. You could feel that in all his work: in his buildings, including many churches, schools and official buildings, but also many private houses, which bear his signature but always responded to the needs of future residents.
With drawing pad in nature
His buildings are objects for people and not just for the purpose. Hubert Taferner was able to sense this in others and it was particularly evident in his many drawings.
In every free minute he sat with his drawing pad in nature or on vacation in historic cities and recorded what his eyes saw. “He loved the harsh sunlight and the long shadows of light,” an art critic once analyzed and quoted him as why he loved to draw trees: “That’s divine architecture.”
Taferner was a person who liked to be among people: whether as an official in the Chamber of Architects, the Eferding Artists’ Guild or in his Rotary Club.
He ran his architectural office until 1994, receiving the Golden Medal of Merit from the State of Upper Austria and the Ring of Honor from the City of Eferding for his achievements. After the death of his wife seven years ago, his four daughters, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren kept “Grandpa” busy.
With the great help of his daughters, he took care of himself, the household and his garden until the end, before he passed away peacefully at the age of 97 after an illness a few days ago after a fulfilled life. The farewell ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 26, at 10 a.m. in the evangelical church in Eferding.
Source: Nachrichten
