Ernst Gustav Kühnert
Encyclopedia
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. From 1910 to 1912 Kühnert worked at a private architecture bureau in Kiel
, and during the periods of 1912-1914 and 1918-1944 in Tallinn. In 1945 he moved to Lübeck
.
Kühnert's most active period as an architect was in the 1920s. Most important of all works - rebuilding and renovating several buildings in the historical Old Town of Tallinn. Many of these buildings are now valued as examples of heimat style and art nouveau
mixed with Estonian traditional architecture. Most of the buildings designed by Kühnert are small-scale dwellings. His 1930s creation can be categorised as functionalism
. He also drew the general plans for garden cities of Merivälja (1924-1925) and Nõmme
(1926-1927) (both with Robert Natus
).
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...
origin. He studied at the Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University is located in Riga, Latvia.- Riga Polytechnical Institute, 1862-1918 :...
from 1902 to 1905 and at the Techniche Hochschule Dresden from 1906 to 1908. From 1910 to 1912 Kühnert worked at a private architecture bureau in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, and during the periods of 1912-1914 and 1918-1944 in Tallinn. In 1945 he moved to Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
.
Kühnert's most active period as an architect was in the 1920s. Most important of all works - rebuilding and renovating several buildings in the historical Old Town of Tallinn. Many of these buildings are now valued as examples of heimat style and art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
mixed with Estonian traditional architecture. Most of the buildings designed by Kühnert are small-scale dwellings. His 1930s creation can be categorised as functionalism
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...
. He also drew the general plans for garden cities of Merivälja (1924-1925) 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...
(1926-1927) (both with Robert Natus
Robert Natus
Robert Natus was an Estonian architect of Baltic German descent.Born in Viljandi, Estonia, Natus studied in Tallinn and Riga . In 1939, Natus moved to Germany. His best known work is the current City Hall of Tallinn, built in 1932...
).