Wilhelm Bockslaff

Latvian architect (1858–1945)
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Latvian. (October 2013) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
  • View a machine-translated version of the Latvian article.
  • Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia.
  • Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article.
  • You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Latvian Wikipedia article at [[:lv:Vilhelms Bokslafs]]; see its history for attribution.
  • You may also add the template {{Translated|lv|Vilhelms Bokslafs}} to the talk page.
  • For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.
Wilhelm Bockslaff
Bockslaff before 1900.
Born24 October [O.S. 12] 1858
Riga, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
Died9 March 1945(1945-03-09) (aged 86)
Posen, Wartheland, Nazi Germany
NationalityBaltic German
Known forArchitecture
MovementEclecticism, Art Nouveau

Wilhelm Ludwig Nikolai Bockslaff (Latvian: Vilhelms Ludvigs Nikolajs Bokslafs, Russian: Вильгельм Людвиг Николай Бокслаф; 24 October [O.S. 12] 1858, Riga – 9 March 1945, Poznań) was a Baltic German architect working in Riga.[1] He is considered one of the most important representatives of Eclecticism, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles in the city. He is noted in particular for his construction of churches.

Biography

Wilhelm Bockslaff was born in Riga on 12 October 1858. His father was the wealthy merchant and industrialist Nicholas Ludwig Bockslaff. In 1878 he started architecture studies in Riga Polytechnicum and graduated in 1885. After graduation, he stayed in the polytechnikum to work as an assistant. He also worked in the offices of architects Johann Koch and Heinrich Scheel. Later he established his own architects office. In this period he studied the history of St. Peter's church in Riga and other medieval buildings in the city. In 1894 he married Eva Riker.

Bockslaff worked mainly in eclectic styles, especially in the Neo-Gothic style. However, he also designed buildings in forms of Art Nouveau. Most notable buildings are Jaunmokas Manor near Tukums[2] and the Commercial school in Riga (Now Art Academy of Latvia). The architect also restored many manors after the Revolution of 1905. He also has designed a large number of churches and various industrial objects such as factories and water towers.

In the 1930s he designed an impressive memorial for him and his wife in Riga Great Cemetery. However, only his wife was buried there in 1939. He himself was forced to leave Latvia together with a majority of Baltic Germans and settled in Posen. He died on 9 March 1945 in the bombing of Posen. His daughter buried him in the garden of their residence.[3] After the war he was anonymously reburied in a local cemetery.

Honour

In honor of the architect's 150th birthday, a monument was erected in the park of Mālpils Manor.

  • Jaunmokas Manor. Built in 1901
    Jaunmokas Manor. Built in 1901
  • Commercial School built in 1902–1905. (Now Art Academy of Latvia.)
    Commercial School built in 1902–1905. (Now Art Academy of Latvia.)
  • Building at the Amatu street 4, Old Riga. Built in 1903
    Building at the Amatu street 4, Old Riga. Built in 1903
  • Church of the Cross, Riga. Built in 1910
    Church of the Cross, Riga. Built in 1910
  • Building in Jauniela 25/29 (Neuburg house) Old Riga. Built in 1903
    Building in Jauniela 25/29 (Neuburg house) Old Riga. Built in 1903
  • Building at the Nometņu street 47 (1909)
    Building at the Nometņu street 47 (1909)
  • Water tower at the Alīses street 4, Riga. Built in 1910
    Water tower at the Alīses street 4, Riga. Built in 1910
  • Building of the former Leutner bicycle factory on Brīvības street 137 Riga. Built in 1894.
    Building of the former Leutner bicycle factory on Brīvības street 137 Riga. Built in 1894.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilhelm Bockslaff.
  1. ^ Krastiņš, Jānis (2002). Rīgas arhitektūras meistari 1850–1940 : The masters of architecture of Riga 1850–1940 (in Latvian and English). Riga: Jumava. ISBN 9984-05-450-0. OCLC 52258305.
  2. ^ Schloss Jaunmoku (sic!) auf latvia.travel.
  3. ^ Gunars Priede: Der Architekt Wilhelm Bockslaff und Riga, p. 60.
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Buildings and streets
Middle coat of arms of Riga
Architects
Commons
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • FAST
  • ISNI
  • VIAF
  • WorldCat
National
  • Germany
  • United States
  • Latvia
Artists
  • Musée d'Orsay
People
  • Deutsche Biographie