Fritz Beblo
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Karl Ewald Beblo, called Fritz Beblo (born 10 November 1872 in Breslau; died 11 April 1947 in Munich
) was a German city planner
, architect
and painter
.
His father, Emil Beblo, was a secondary school teacher. Fritz was a class comrade of actor Friedrich Kayssler and author and poet Christian Morgenstern
at the Maria-Magdalenen-Gymnasium in Breslau, where his father also taught. Fritz got his lifelong love of music
from his father. His mother took particular care of Christian Morgenstern when he and her son became acquainted with each other. After leaving secondary school in 1883, Beblo first attended the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg in Berlin
. Here, he lived in close contact with his school friends Kayssler and Morgenstern. The three of them founded a cabaret
and the regulars' table, Der Galgenberg (Gallows Hill). As one of the "gallows brothers", Beblo got the nickname of Stumme Hannes (Silent Hannes). (One of Morgenstern's best-known works is a collection of poems called Galgenlieder or "Gallows Songs".) Like the future actor, Friedrich Kayssler, Beblo maintained lifelong contact with his school friend from Breslau, Morgenstern. In 1896, Beblo continued his studies at the Technischen Hochschule Karlsruhe
with Professor Carl Schäfer, a renowned architect. His friendship with the painter Adolf Erbslöh is from this period. After finishing his studies in architecture, Beblo first went to the fortress Festung Ehrenbreitstein
near Koblenz
as the royal Prussia
n site manager and then to Traben-Trarbach
on the Moselle River
. There he participated in building the Moselle Bridge. After passing the examination for Baumeister (master builder) in 1902, he took over supervision of the building site for the new secondary school in Traben-Trarbach and built an adult education center (Volkshochschule) according to his own designs. In the same year, he married Melanie Luise Knoch, whom he had met in Karlsruhe. He and his wife had three children. Beblo's daughter, Anne (who was an author of children's books) married Christian Kayssler, the son of his friend, Friedrich Kayssler. Both of his sons became architects, like their father. Fritz Beblo was an illustrator of several children's books by Morgenstern, as well as books by his daughter, Anne Kayssler-Beblo.
, which had belonged to the state of Elsass-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine
) in the German Empire since 1871. At the beginning of the 20th century, Strasbourg was also in the midst of a lot of building activity. In 1910, Fritz Beblo was named head of the building department and building control office (Baurat, building officer). He received support for his plans from Rudolf Schwander, the mayor. Beblo's name is especially connected with the Musau-Schule (1904-1906), the Thomasschule (1905-1907), the Neufeldschule (1907-1909, today the Collège Louise Weiss
), the Haushaltsschule beside the Magdalenenkirche
(1909-1910), the Magdalenenkirche, the Grande Percée (Neue Straße) and the swimming pool and thermal baths Bains Municipaux (1905-1910). This art nouveau
style bath is considered one of his finest works and is protected as a historical monument. The last work of Beblo in Strasbourg that is worth mentioning is the grounds of the Nordfriedhof (Northern Cemetery). He was not able to complete this work, having to leave the city of Strasbourg after the end of the First World War, since he was a German official and the city had become French again.
, Bonn
and Munich
. He decided to go to Munich, where he expected large tasks as the city building officer. Above all, he erected multi-floor apartment buildings at the beginning of his work there to lessen the need for apartments. In the following years, he produced plans for general building guidelines and land utilization, which went far beyond the existing city limits, and a plan for green space in 1926. Beblo was co-responsible for drawing up the Dante Stadium, for the popular family swimming pool Maria Einsiedel, and for the Technische Rathaus (Technical City Hall). In 1934, Munich got great importance as a center for transportation. The extension of the autobahn entrance at Ramersdorf and the Ludwigsbrücke (Ludwig's Bridge) are some of the last great tasks of Beblo before his retirement. After 1936, Beblo lived quite withdrawn in his house in Munich-Giesing. He died at the age of 74 and was buried in the Friedhof am Perlacher Forst (Cemetery at the Perlach Forest), which he himself had been involved in planning. For his special services to the city of Munich, a street in Munich-Bogenhausen was named after him in 1955.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
) was a German city planner
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
, architect
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
His father, Emil Beblo, was a secondary school teacher. Fritz was a class comrade of actor Friedrich Kayssler and author and poet Christian Morgenstern
Christian Morgenstern
Christian Otto Josef Wolfgang Morgenstern was a German author and poet from Munich. Morgenstern married Margareta Gosebruch von Liechtenstern on March 7, 1910...
at the Maria-Magdalenen-Gymnasium in Breslau, where his father also taught. Fritz got his lifelong love of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from his father. His mother took particular care of Christian Morgenstern when he and her son became acquainted with each other. After leaving secondary school in 1883, Beblo first attended the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg 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...
. Here, he lived in close contact with his school friends Kayssler and Morgenstern. The three of them founded a cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
and the regulars' table, Der Galgenberg (Gallows Hill). As one of the "gallows brothers", Beblo got the nickname of Stumme Hannes (Silent Hannes). (One of Morgenstern's best-known works is a collection of poems called Galgenlieder or "Gallows Songs".) Like the future actor, Friedrich Kayssler, Beblo maintained lifelong contact with his school friend from Breslau, Morgenstern. In 1896, Beblo continued his studies at the Technischen Hochschule Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
with Professor Carl Schäfer, a renowned architect. His friendship with the painter Adolf Erbslöh is from this period. After finishing his studies in architecture, Beblo first went to the fortress Festung Ehrenbreitstein
Festung Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a fortress on the mountain of the same name on the east bank of the Rhine opposite the town of Koblenz in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate....
near Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
as the royal Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n site manager and then to Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach on the Middle Moselle is a town in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde and a state-recognized climatic spa .- Location :...
on the Moselle River
Moselle River
The Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
. There he participated in building the Moselle Bridge. After passing the examination for Baumeister (master builder) in 1902, he took over supervision of the building site for the new secondary school in Traben-Trarbach and built an adult education center (Volkshochschule) according to his own designs. In the same year, he married Melanie Luise Knoch, whom he had met in Karlsruhe. He and his wife had three children. Beblo's daughter, Anne (who was an author of children's books) married Christian Kayssler, the son of his friend, Friedrich Kayssler. Both of his sons became architects, like their father. Fritz Beblo was an illustrator of several children's books by Morgenstern, as well as books by his daughter, Anne Kayssler-Beblo.
1903-1919 in Strasbourg
Fritz Beblo began as a city building inspector in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, which had belonged to the state of Elsass-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
) in the German Empire since 1871. At the beginning of the 20th century, Strasbourg was also in the midst of a lot of building activity. In 1910, Fritz Beblo was named head of the building department and building control office (Baurat, building officer). He received support for his plans from Rudolf Schwander, the mayor. Beblo's name is especially connected with the Musau-Schule (1904-1906), the Thomasschule (1905-1907), the Neufeldschule (1907-1909, today the Collège Louise Weiss
Louise Weiss
Louise Weiss was a French author, journalist, feminist and European politician.- Life :Louise Weiss came from a cosmopolitan family of Alsace. The ancestors of her Jewish mother, Jeanne Javal, originated from the small Alsatian town of Seppois-le-Bas...
), the Haushaltsschule beside the Magdalenenkirche
Sainte-Madeleine Church, Strasbourg
The Sainte-Madeleine Church is a Catholic church in Strasbourg, France, which was built in Gothic style in the late 15th century but largely rebuilt in a style close to Jugendstil after a devastating fire in 1904...
(1909-1910), the Magdalenenkirche, the Grande Percée (Neue Straße) and the swimming pool and thermal baths Bains Municipaux (1905-1910). This 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"...
style bath is considered one of his finest works and is protected as a historical monument. The last work of Beblo in Strasbourg that is worth mentioning is the grounds of the Nordfriedhof (Northern Cemetery). He was not able to complete this work, having to leave the city of Strasbourg after the end of the First World War, since he was a German official and the city had become French again.
1919-1936 in Munich
Beblo received offers from AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He decided to go to Munich, where he expected large tasks as the city building officer. Above all, he erected multi-floor apartment buildings at the beginning of his work there to lessen the need for apartments. In the following years, he produced plans for general building guidelines and land utilization, which went far beyond the existing city limits, and a plan for green space in 1926. Beblo was co-responsible for drawing up the Dante Stadium, for the popular family swimming pool Maria Einsiedel, and for the Technische Rathaus (Technical City Hall). In 1934, Munich got great importance as a center for transportation. The extension of the autobahn entrance at Ramersdorf and the Ludwigsbrücke (Ludwig's Bridge) are some of the last great tasks of Beblo before his retirement. After 1936, Beblo lived quite withdrawn in his house in Munich-Giesing. He died at the age of 74 and was buried in the Friedhof am Perlacher Forst (Cemetery at the Perlach Forest), which he himself had been involved in planning. For his special services to the city of Munich, a street in Munich-Bogenhausen was named after him in 1955.
Books
All books are in German.- Alemannische und fränkische Elemente des Straßburger Bürgerhauses, in: Elsaß-Lothringen Yearbook 3, 1924, pp. 92–104
- Die Baukunst in Elsaß-Lothringen 1871–1918. In: Das Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen 1871–1918, Vol. 3, Wissenschaft, Kunst und Literatur in Elsaß-Lothringen 1871–1918, Frankfurt am Main 1934, pp. 241–263.
- Works of Fritz Beblo in the catalog of the German National Library
Literature
- Exhibition catalog Bauen auf Tradition, Fritz Beblo 1872–1947, in the city archive of Munich, 1991