Alexander Wittek

{{Short description|Austrian-Hungarian architect and chess master}}

{{Infobox architect

|name = Alexander Wittek

|image =

|caption =

|nationality = Austrian

|birth_date = {{birth date|1852|10|12|df=y}}

|birth_place = Sisak, Austrian Empire

|death_date = {{death date and age|1894|11|05|1852|12|10|df=y}}

|death_place = Graz, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

|significant_buildings=

}}

Alexander Wittek (12 October 1852, Sisak – 11 May 1894, Graz){{Cite web |url=http://www.newinchess.com/Wittek__Alexander-ip-65594.html |title=Alexander Wittek - Chessgames - New in Chess |access-date=2008-10-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905053119/http://www.newinchess.com/Wittek__Alexander-ip-65594.html |archive-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead }} was an Austrian-Hungarian architect and chess master.

As an architect, Wittek worked in Bosnia and Herzegovina during Austro-Hungarian Empire. His most well-known works in Sarajevo are the City Hall building called "Vijećnica" (1892–1894){{cite web|url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/Regional/SEE/IRPPSAAH/PTA/PTA_BosniaandHerzegovina_TownHallSarajevo_APP.pdf|title=Culture and Cultural Heritage at the Council of Europe – Homepage|website=Culture and Cultural Heritage}} which later became the National Library and the Sebilj public fountain (1891), and in Mostar Hotel Neretva, all designed and built in the pseudo-Moorish style.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarajevo-guide.com/attractions.htm|title=Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Attractions|first=Sarajevo|last=Guide|website=www.sarajevo-guide.com}}{{cite web |author1=Sanja Zadro Ursić |title=Architecture of Historicism and Art Nouveau in Mostar |url=https://www.cidom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sanja-Zadro-Architecture-of-Historicism-and-Art-Nouve-in-Mostar.pdf |website=cidom.org |access-date=15 January 2024 |language=en |date=2014}}

Wittek was also a chess master. He tied for 5–6th at Berlin 1881 (2nd DSB–Congress, Joseph Henry Blackburne won), and was in 9th place at Vienna 1882 (Wilhelm Steinitz and Simon Winawer won). In 1882 he was ranked 9th in the world.{{cite web|url=http://chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/PlayerProfile.asp?Params=199510SSSSS3S143402000000141000000000033310100|title=Chessmetrics Player Profile: Alexander Wittek|website=chessmetrics.com}}

Wittek died in a lunatic asylum in Graz in 1894, having been diagnosed with a "paralytic mental disorder" the previous year.http://www.klinikum-graz.at/cms/dokumente/10094691_2096265/888a95f9/Ztg%20KlinOptikum%206_07%20druckverson_070725n.pdf{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} One source says that he committed suicide but another cites tuberculosis.

File:Stari Grad Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - panoramio.jpg|National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1891-1896)

File:Sebilj (by day).jpg|Sebilj (1891)

File:Image taken from page 71 of 'The Outgoing Turk- impressions of a journey through the western Balkans ... With seventy-six illustrations ... and three maps' (11298136376).jpg|Sebilj in 1897

File:Hotel Neretva 1960s.jpg|Neretva Hotel 1890-92