Hugo Licht
Encyclopedia
Hugo Georg Licht was a German architect
.
in Berlin - especially with private villas and other magnificent buildings.
In 1864, he enrolled at the Berlin Royal Prussian Academy of Architecture
and was a pupil of Friedrich Adler
. Later and with his recommendation Licht could change in the studio of the architect Richard Lucae in Berlin. In contrast to the orientation of Adler at the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
, Lucae favored the formal language of the Italian Renaissance
. Later he moved to Vienna and worked with the architect Heinrich von Ferstel
.
From 1869 until the end of 1870 Licht traveled through Italy. This study tour took him through the whole country, but priorities were Rome
and Pompeii
. After returning to Germany, he married Clara Heckmann the same year. In the spring of the following year he established himself as a freelance architect in Berlin and worked as such until 1879. The plot of the land and the important buildings of the Jewish cemetery in Berlin-Weissensee
were built after his plans in 1879/1880. During his time in Berlin, Licht made several study trips to Paris
and London
, where he also met with colleagues.
In 1879 Licht was entrusted with the leadership of the Building Surveyor of the city of Leipzig
. He held this office until 1896 and was released by the office in October 1896 for the work on the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall (Leipzig)
). He held the function as a city planner until 1906.
Licht served from 1901 as editor of "Die Architektur des XX. Jahrhunderts" (The Architecture of the XX. Century) and from 1905 he was additional the editor of "Der Profanbau" (The Secular Building). Also in 1905 he became honorary doctorate
(Dr.-Ing. E. h.) by the Technische Universität Dresden. In 1906 he was awarded with the title professor by the Universität Leipzig.
At the age of almost 82 years, Prof. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Hugo Licht died on 28 February 1923 in Leipzig.
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...
.
Life
Licht was the son of the landholder Georg Hugo Licht. In the years 1862 and 1863 he was mason trainee at the renowned Berlin architects Wilhelm Böckmann and Hermann Ende. At this time, they embossed at that time the late Neoclassical architectureNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
in Berlin - especially with private villas and other magnificent buildings.
In 1864, he enrolled at the Berlin Royal Prussian Academy of Architecture
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...
and was a pupil of Friedrich Adler
Friedrich Adler (architect)
Friedrich Adler was a German architect and archaeologist.After having studied at the Academy of Architecture in his native Berlin, he began teaching there in 1855, and was soon famous for building churches....
. Later and with his recommendation Licht could change in the studio of the architect Richard Lucae in Berlin. In contrast to the orientation of Adler at the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
, Lucae favored the formal language of the Italian Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. Later he moved to Vienna and worked with the architect Heinrich von Ferstel
Heinrich von Ferstel
thumb|right|The [[Votivkirche]], Vienna, designed by FerstelHeinrich von Ferstel thumb|right|The [[Votivkirche]], Vienna, designed by FerstelHeinrich von Ferstel thumb|right|The [[Votivkirche]], Vienna, designed by FerstelHeinrich von Ferstel (July 7, 1828, Vienna - 14 July 1883, Grinzing, near...
.
From 1869 until the end of 1870 Licht traveled through Italy. This study tour took him through the whole country, but priorities were Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
. After returning to Germany, he married Clara Heckmann the same year. In the spring of the following year he established himself as a freelance architect in Berlin and worked as such until 1879. The plot of the land and the important buildings of the Jewish cemetery in Berlin-Weissensee
Weißensee Cemetery
The Weißensee Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located in the neighborhood of Weißensee in Berlin, Germany. It is the second largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The cemetery covers approximately and contains approximately 115,000 graves. It was dedicated in 1880....
were built after his plans in 1879/1880. During his time in Berlin, Licht made several study trips 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...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he also met with colleagues.
In 1879 Licht was entrusted with the leadership of the Building Surveyor of the city of Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. He held this office until 1896 and was released by the office in October 1896 for the work on the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall (Leipzig)
New Town Hall (Leipzig)
Leipzig New Town Hall is the seat of the Leipzig city administration since 1905. It stands within the Leipzig's "ring road" on the south west corner opposite the city library at Martin-Luther-Ring.- History :...
). He held the function as a city planner until 1906.
Licht served from 1901 as editor of "Die Architektur des XX. Jahrhunderts" (The Architecture of the XX. Century) and from 1905 he was additional the editor of "Der Profanbau" (The Secular Building). Also in 1905 he became honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
(Dr.-Ing. E. h.) by the Technische Universität Dresden. In 1906 he was awarded with the title professor by the Universität Leipzig.
At the age of almost 82 years, Prof. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Hugo Licht died on 28 February 1923 in Leipzig.
Most important buildings
- 1879/1880: blueprint for the Jewish cemetery in Berlin-WeissenseeWeißensee CemeteryThe Weißensee Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located in the neighborhood of Weißensee in Berlin, Germany. It is the second largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The cemetery covers approximately and contains approximately 115,000 graves. It was dedicated in 1880....
- 1879: [Südfriedhof] in Leipzig
- 1883–1886: modification and expansion of the Städtischen MuseumsMuseum der bildenden KünsteThe Museum der bildenden Künste is a museum in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. On 7,000 square meters of display area, 3,500 paintings, 1,000 sculptures and 60,000 graphical works are shown...
in Leipzig (destroyed, area now used by the GewandhausGewandhausGewandhaus is a concert hall in Leipzig, Germany. Today's hall is the third to bear this name; like the second, it is noted for its fine acoustics. The first Gewandhaus was built in 1781 by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. The second opened on 11 December 1884, and was destroyed in the... - 1885–1887: University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig in Leipzig
- 1886–1888: municipal butchery in Leipzig (area today used by the Mitteldeutscher RundfunkMitteldeutscher RundfunkMitteldeutscher Rundfunk is the public broadcaster for the federal states of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt...
) - 1888–1891: municipal town hall in Leipzig (destroyed)
- 1894–1897: new building of the Johanniskirche in Leipzig (destroyed)
- 1893–1895: Old Grassi Museum in Leipzig (now Leipzig city library)
- 1899–1905: Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) in Leipzig
- 1908–1912: Stadthaus in Leipzig, (expansion of Neues Rathaus)
- 1911–1913: headquarters of the Leipziger Feuerversicherungs-AG in Leipzig (later regional headquarter of the Ministeriums für Staatssicherheit („Stasi“)StasiThe Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
of the GDR, since 1989/1990 museum Runde Ecke (Round Corner) about the former) - 1918: Löwenbrunnen in Leipzig