Wilhelm Böckmann
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Böckmann was a German
architect who worked briefly as a foreign advisor to the government of Meiji period
Japan
.
, near Wuppertal
, Germany
where his father was a teacher of mathematics. He initially entered the Gymnasium
to follow in his father’s footsteps, but dropped out after two years to complete an apprenticeship
as a carpenter. In 1854, he entered the Bauakademie
, in Berlin
, an architectural school housed in what is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture
due to its theretofore uncommon use of red brick and a relatively streamlined façade. His studies were interrupted for a year by military service, and by another year spent travelling abroad with his friend Hermann Ende. In 1859, he passed his First State Examination with high marks. He established the architectural firm, “Böckmann and Ende” in 1860.
In 1864 Böckmann was invited to speak before the Paris Institute of Architects. In 1868, he founded a technical journal, the Deutsche Bauzeitung
. He became chairman of the Architects and Engineers Association in Berlin from 1869.
Most of the buildings he designed were in the neighborhood of Berlin, especially villas in district of Tiergarten
, with many found within the diplomatic quarter. He was also active in the residential areas of Potsdam Neubabelsberg
and designed various buildings for the Berlin Zoo. Few of these buildings have survived World War II
.
into a modern national capital. He spent two months investigating the terrain and put together a draft plan with an outline for a new Ministry of Justice building
. He plan was for a magnificent Baroque
city comparable to Paris
or Berlin, but he left Japan with the Japanese authorities gasping at the tremendous budget which would be required. His visit was followed in 1887 by his partner, Hermann Ende, who brought designs for other governmental buildings, including the Ministry of Justice and a new Diet building
.
However, the project was soon derailed by Inoue Kaoru
for budgetary reasons, as well as a growing cultural backlash in Japan against mimicking Western architecture. Ende was sent home and plans for a brancj office of Böckmann and Ende in Tokyo came to an end. The Japanese government, however, did keep his designs for the new Ministry of Justice building, which was completed in 1895, albeit by another company.
Back on Germany, Böckmann continued his architectural design work. He became Berlin Zoo Association Director in 1893 and President from 1897. Böckmann was made an Honorary Member of Institute of Architects in 1902, and died later the same year in Berlin.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
architect who worked briefly as a foreign advisor to the government of Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Early career
Böckmann was born in ElberfeldElberfeld
Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...
, near Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, 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...
where his father was a teacher of mathematics. He initially entered the Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
to follow in his father’s footsteps, but dropped out after two years to complete an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
as a carpenter. In 1854, he entered the Bauakademie
Bauakademie
The Bauakademie in Berlin, Germany, built between 1832 and 1836, is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture due to its theretofore uncommon use of red brick and the relatively streamlined facade of the building.Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the Bauakademie was built near...
, in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, an architectural school housed in what is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
due to its theretofore uncommon use of red brick and a relatively streamlined façade. His studies were interrupted for a year by military service, and by another year spent travelling abroad with his friend Hermann Ende. In 1859, he passed his First State Examination with high marks. He established the architectural firm, “Böckmann and Ende” in 1860.
In 1864 Böckmann was invited to speak before the Paris Institute of Architects. In 1868, he founded a technical journal, the Deutsche Bauzeitung
Deutsche Bauzeitung
Deutsche Bauzeitung is the oldest technical architecture publication periodical in Germany....
. He became chairman of the Architects and Engineers Association in Berlin from 1869.
Most of the buildings he designed were in the neighborhood of Berlin, especially villas in district of Tiergarten
Tiergarten
Tiergarten is a locality within the borough of Mitte, in central Berlin . Notable for the great and homonymous urban park, before German reunification, it was a part of West Berlin...
, with many found within the diplomatic quarter. He was also active in the residential areas of Potsdam Neubabelsberg
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
and designed various buildings for the Berlin Zoo. Few of these buildings have survived World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Career in Japan
Böckmann was invited to Japan by the Meiji government in 1886 to develop a plan to rebuild TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
into a modern national capital. He spent two months investigating the terrain and put together a draft plan with an outline for a new Ministry of Justice building
Ministry of Justice (Japan)
The is one of Ministries of the Japanese government.-Meiji Constitution:The Ministry of Justice was established under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan in 1871 as the .-Constitution of Japan:...
. He plan was for a magnificent Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
city comparable to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
or Berlin, but he left Japan with the Japanese authorities gasping at the tremendous budget which would be required. His visit was followed in 1887 by his partner, Hermann Ende, who brought designs for other governmental buildings, including the Ministry of Justice and a new Diet building
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
.
However, the project was soon derailed by Inoue Kaoru
Inoue Kaoru
Count , GCMG was a member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesman in Japan during that period, he had a tremendous influence on the selection of the nation's leaders and formation of its policies.-Early years:...
for budgetary reasons, as well as a growing cultural backlash in Japan against mimicking Western architecture. Ende was sent home and plans for a brancj office of Böckmann and Ende in Tokyo came to an end. The Japanese government, however, did keep his designs for the new Ministry of Justice building, which was completed in 1895, albeit by another company.
Back on Germany, Böckmann continued his architectural design work. He became Berlin Zoo Association Director in 1893 and President from 1897. Böckmann was made an Honorary Member of Institute of Architects in 1902, and died later the same year in Berlin.
Noted works
- 1864-1865: Old Synagogue (Elberfeld), (rebuilt in 1938: destroyed)
- 1867: Bank HF Lehmann in Halle, Saxony-AnhaltHalle, Saxony-AnhaltHalle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
- 1871-1874: Prussian Soil Bank in Berlin
- 1872-1874: Deutsche Union-Bank in Berlin
- 1873: several buildings in the Berlin Zoological Garden (e.g., Elephant House, antelopes, big cat house)
- 1875: "Oak Castle" for Baron Saint Paul in the Hirschberger Valley (SilesiaSilesiaSilesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
) - 1875-1876: Architects Association of Berlin (1934; demolished)
- 1876-1877: Café Bauer in Berlin
- 1881-1885: Museum of Ethnology in Berlin
- 1882-1883: Helms Café in Berlin
- 1883: House of the Estates in Danzig
- 1883: Sedan panorama at Berlin Alexanderplatz station
- 1884-1886: House Voßstraße 33 in Berlin (now HQ of German railways)
- 1885: "Schiess'sches House" in MagdeburgMagdeburgMagdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
- 1887: Synagogue in Danzig
- 1895: Justice Department in Tokyo, Japan