Franjo Klein
Encyclopedia
Franjo Klein was one of the most important architect
s in the period of an early and mature historicism
in Croatia
and the most prominent architect in Zagreb
in the 1860s and 1870s.
where he received training in building and stone carving trades, and completed two years of architecture studies at the Academy of Fine Arts
. For some time, he worked as a draughtsman in Vienna. He moved to Croatia in 1851, successfully applied for a job as a bricklayer foreman in the Varaždin
-Đurđevac Regiment, and spent the next eight years working for the Regiment in Bjelovar
, until he was transferred to Zagreb in 1859.
It is known that Klein designed and built a number of public buildings during his stay in Bjelovar, but there are no surviving records which would support a reliable attribution. It is conjectured that several buildings in Bjelovar - such as Adjutant's house (1855–1859), Sergeant Major's house (1855–1856) and the prison building (1854–1861) - were actually designed by Klein.
His earliest known work is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Molve
, built between 1855 and 1862. It is the most significant example of Rundbogenstil
in sacred architecture of Croatia.
. Construction began in 1866 and was completed the following year. He also built Zagreb Orthodox Cathedral
located on the Petar Preradović
Square.
In 1868 Klein and Janko Grahor founded a construction company called Grahor and Klein. After Klein left the company in 1886, it was renamed to Grahor and Sons.
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...
s in the period of an early and mature historicism
Historicism (art)
Historicism refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans. After neo-classicism, which could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by a return to a more ancient classicism, in particular in...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and the most prominent architect in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in the 1860s and 1870s.
Early work in Vienna and Bjelovar
Klein was born into an evangelical family in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
where he received training in building and stone carving trades, and completed two years of architecture studies at the Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
. For some time, he worked as a draughtsman in Vienna. He moved to Croatia in 1851, successfully applied for a job as a bricklayer foreman in the Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
-Đurđevac Regiment, and spent the next eight years working for the Regiment in Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
, until he was transferred to Zagreb in 1859.
It is known that Klein designed and built a number of public buildings during his stay in Bjelovar, but there are no surviving records which would support a reliable attribution. It is conjectured that several buildings in Bjelovar - such as Adjutant's house (1855–1859), Sergeant Major's house (1855–1856) and the prison building (1854–1861) - were actually designed by Klein.
His earliest known work is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Molve
Molve
Molve is a municipality in the Koprivnica–Križevci County in Croatia. According to the 2011 census, there are 2,194 inhabitants in the area.-External links:* http://www.molve.hr/* http://www.molvarci.net/* http://www.molvarci.net/forum/...
, built between 1855 and 1862. It is the most significant example of Rundbogenstil
Rundbogenstil
Rundbogenstil , one of the nineteenth-century historic revival styles of architecture, is a variety of Romanesque revival popular in the German-speaking lands and the German diaspora....
in sacred architecture of Croatia.
Work in Zagreb
Klein was commissioned to build the Zagreb SynagogueZagreb synagogue
The Zagreb Synagogue was the main place of worship for the Jewish community of Zagreb in modern-day Croatia, from its construction in 1867 in the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia within the Austrian Empire, until its demolition by the fascist authorities in 1941 in the Axis-aligned Independent State of...
. Construction began in 1866 and was completed the following year. He also built Zagreb Orthodox Cathedral
Zagreb Orthodox Cathedral
Zagreb Orthodox Cathedral or Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord is Serbian Orthodox Cathedral located on the Petar Preradović Square in Zagreb, Croatia.It was built in 1865-1866 according to designs of a Croatian architect Franjo Klein...
located on the Petar Preradović
Petar Preradovic
Petar Preradović was a Croatian poet of Serb origin.- Biography :Preradović was born in the village of Grabrovnica , which was part of the Austrian Military Frontier, in Serbian Orthodox family of Jovan Preradović and Pelagija Preradović. He spent childhood in Grubišno Polje, were his father was...
Square.
In 1868 Klein and Janko Grahor founded a construction company called Grahor and Klein. After Klein left the company in 1886, it was renamed to Grahor and Sons.