Robert Natus
Encyclopedia
Robert Natus was an Estonian architect of Baltic German
descent.
Born in Viljandi
, Estonia
, Natus studied in Tallinn and Riga
(in Riga Technical University
). In 1939, Natus moved to Germany. His best known work is the current City Hall of Tallinn, built in 1932. With its red clinker mosaique façade and lanterns by the Estonian sculptor Jaan Koort, it is the most prominent building surrounding Freedom Square, and the most beautiful example of expressionist art deco
in Tallinn.
Red clinker mosaique was soon copied on another of Natus' well-known building on the corner of Pärnu and Roosikrantsi street, only a few hundred meters from the City Hall. This building was inspired by Johann Friedrich Höger
's Chilehaus in Hamburg
.
Natus has also created several functionalistic
apartment buildings and private dwellings.
In 1920s Natus (together with Ernst Gustav Kühnert
) drew the general plans for garden cities Merivälja
and Nõmme
, both just outside Tallinn (Nõmme was added to Tallinn in 1940). Natus died in Bad Wilsnack
, Germany
.
Baltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
descent.
Born in Viljandi
Viljandi
Viljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 19,150 . It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Natus studied in Tallinn and Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(in Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University is located in Riga, Latvia.- Riga Polytechnical Institute, 1862-1918 :...
). In 1939, Natus moved to Germany. His best known work is the current City Hall of Tallinn, built in 1932. With its red clinker mosaique façade and lanterns by the Estonian sculptor Jaan Koort, it is the most prominent building surrounding Freedom Square, and the most beautiful example of expressionist art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
in Tallinn.
Red clinker mosaique was soon copied on another of Natus' well-known building on the corner of Pärnu and Roosikrantsi street, only a few hundred meters from the City Hall. This building was inspired by Johann Friedrich Höger
Johann Friedrich Höger
Johann Friedrich Höger was a German architect from Bekenreihe near Elmshorn, Schleswig-Holstein.His best-known work is the Brick Expressionist Chilehaus in Hamburg, constructed 1922-24 for saltpeter importer Henry B. Sloman...
's Chilehaus in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
Natus has also created several functionalistic
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
apartment buildings and private dwellings.
In 1920s Natus (together with Ernst Gustav Kühnert
Ernst Gustav Kühnert
Ernst Gustav Kühnert was an Estonian architect and art historian of Baltic German origin. He studied at the Riga Technical University from 1902 to 1905 and at the Techniche Hochschule Dresden from 1906 to 1908...
) drew the general plans for garden cities Merivälja
Merivälja
Merivälja is a subdistrict in the district of Pirita, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 2,823 .-References:...
and Nõmme
Nõmme
Nõmme is one of the 8 administrative districts of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 38,168 and covers an area of , population density is...
, both just outside Tallinn (Nõmme was added to Tallinn in 1940). Natus died in Bad Wilsnack
Bad Wilsnack
Bad Wilsnack is a town in the Prignitz district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated halfway between Berlin and Hamburg. Since 1928 it has been officially recognised as a spa town, before which time its name was simply Wilsnack...
, Germany
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...
.