Gottlieb Redecker
Encyclopedia
Gottlieb Wilhelm Eduard Redecker (April 30, 1871 - January 21, 1945) was a German
engineer
and architect
in South West Africa
. He was responsible for a number of important buildings which still stand today in Namibia
, particularly in Windhoek
, including the national assembly building, the Tintenpalast
.
Gottlieb Redecker was the eldest son of a family of seven children born to Johann Wilhelm Redecker and his wife Maria Kardin Amalie née Gronermeyer. The father (1836–1911) came in 1867 from Bielefeld
in Westphalia
to Otjimbingwe
in the former German South West Africa.
Gottlieb was one of the first students of the famous Augustineum, which was later attended by the sons of the famous Herero chief Samuel Maharero
. After his mother had died when he was 11, he was send back to Germany accompanied by missionaries. After completing his secondary education, he studied engineering.
On 25 January 1898, he married Joan Marie Elise Kornfeld, by whom he had a daughter, Anne Marie Ilse Klara Redecker.
After a second stay in Germany, he returned to Otjimbingwe and was appointed director of engineering in 1901 by the Imperial Government, at which point he began his career as first architect of the country.
Due to his long residence abroad he had lost the German citizenship he inherited from his father and was classified as a Damara
by German administrators. He spoke both Damara and Herero
fluently and knew the country and the people. Through his language skills and former school friends, he had access to the leading local personalities.
As a distinguished architect Gottlieb Redecker was responsible for a large number of buildings in the country, especially the famous Christ Church
and the Tintenpalast
("Ink Palace"). His third and best design for Christ Church, in a neo-Romanesque style, was finally approved by the government. He not only made the drawings, but also oversaw the management of the construction under adverse circumstances. The building was completed on 15 October 1910 after about three years of construction, and dedicated wity great festivity.
After the First World War - which ended in South-West Africa with the Khorab Peace - Gottlieb was released from internment in Kimberley, South Africa, and returned to Germany from South-West Africa in 1921. He retired in 1931. He was killed on 21 January 1945 during an air raid, in which his house was bombed, on Gütersloh
, where he was buried.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and 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...
in South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
. He was responsible for a number of important buildings which still stand today in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, particularly in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, including the national assembly building, the Tintenpalast
Tintenpalast
The Tintenpalast is the seat of both chambers of the Namibian legislature, the National Council and the National Assembly...
.
Life
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
to Otjimbingwe
Otjimbingwe
Otjimbingwe is a settlement in the Erongo Region of central Namibia. It has approximately 8000 inhabitants.The Rhenish Mission Society used Otjimbingwe as a central location for their Namibian mission in 1849. Johannes Rath and his family settled in the area on 11 July that year, and the settlement...
in the former German South West Africa.
Gottlieb was one of the first students of the famous Augustineum, which was later attended by the sons of the famous Herero chief Samuel Maharero
Samuel Maharero
Samuel Maharero was a Paramount Chief of the Herero people in German South-West Africa during their revolts and in connection with the events surrounding the Herero genocide.- Life :...
. After his mother had died when he was 11, he was send back to Germany accompanied by missionaries. After completing his secondary education, he studied engineering.
On 25 January 1898, he married Joan Marie Elise Kornfeld, by whom he had a daughter, Anne Marie Ilse Klara Redecker.
After a second stay in Germany, he returned to Otjimbingwe and was appointed director of engineering in 1901 by the Imperial Government, at which point he began his career as first architect of the country.
Due to his long residence abroad he had lost the German citizenship he inherited from his father and was classified as a Damara
Damara people
The Damara are an ethnic group who make up 8.5% of Namibia's population...
by German administrators. He spoke both Damara and Herero
Herero language
The Herero language is a language of the Bantu family . It is spoken by the Herero people in Namibia and Botswana...
fluently and knew the country and the people. Through his language skills and former school friends, he had access to the leading local personalities.
As a distinguished architect Gottlieb Redecker was responsible for a large number of buildings in the country, especially the famous Christ Church
Christ Church, Windhoek
The Christ Church is a historic landmark and Lutheran church in Windhoek, Namibia.After the end of the wars between the Germans and the Khoikhoi, Herero, and Ovambo in 1907, the ground breaking ceremony took place and on October 16, 1910 the church was opened and dedicated as the Church of Peace...
and the Tintenpalast
Tintenpalast
The Tintenpalast is the seat of both chambers of the Namibian legislature, the National Council and the National Assembly...
("Ink Palace"). His third and best design for Christ Church, in a neo-Romanesque style, was finally approved by the government. He not only made the drawings, but also oversaw the management of the construction under adverse circumstances. The building was completed on 15 October 1910 after about three years of construction, and dedicated wity great festivity.
After the First World War - which ended in South-West Africa with the Khorab Peace - Gottlieb was released from internment in Kimberley, South Africa, and returned to Germany from South-West Africa in 1921. He retired in 1931. He was killed on 21 January 1945 during an air raid, in which his house was bombed, on Gütersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
, where he was buried.