Wilhelm Bockslaff
{{short description|Latvian architect (1858–1945)}}
{{Expand Latvian|Vilhelms Bokslafs|topic=biography|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Wilhelm Bockslaff
| image = V Bokslaff.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Bockslaff before 1900.
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{OldStyleDate|24 October|1858|12}}
| birth_place = Riga, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1945|03|9|1858|10|12|df=yes}}
| death_place = Posen, Wartheland, Nazi Germany
| nationality = Baltic German
| field = Architecture
| training =
| movement = Eclecticism, Art Nouveau
| famous works =
| patrons =
| awards =
| education = Riga Polytechnicum
}}
Wilhelm Ludwig Nikolai Bockslaff ({{langx|lv|Vilhelms Ludvigs Nikolajs Bokslafs}}, {{langx|ru|Вильгельм Людвиг Николай Бокслаф}}; {{OldStyleDate|24 October|1858|12}}, Riga – 9 March 1945, Poznań) was a Baltic German architect working in Riga.{{cite book
| last = Krastiņš
| first = Jānis
| authorlink = Jānis Krastiņš
| title = Rīgas arhitektūras meistari 1850–1940 : The masters of architecture of Riga 1850–1940.
| language = Latvian, English
| publisher = Jumava
| location = Riga
| series =
| year = 2002
| oclc = 52258305
| isbn = 9984-05-450-0
}} He is considered one of the most important representatives of Eclecticism, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles in the city. He is noted in particular for his construction of churches.
Biography
Wilhelm Bockslaff was born in Riga on 12 October 1858. His father was the wealthy merchant and industrialist Nicholas Ludwig Bockslaff.
In 1878 he started architecture studies in Riga Polytechnicum and graduated in 1885. After graduation, he stayed in the polytechnicum to work as an assistant. He also worked in the offices of architects Johann Koch and Heinrich Scheel. Later he established his own architects office. In this period he studied the history of St. Peter's church in Riga and other medieval buildings in the city.
In 1894 he married Eva Riker.
Bockslaff worked mainly in eclectic styles, especially in the Neo-Gothic style. However, he also designed buildings in forms of Art Nouveau. Most notable buildings are Jaunmokas Manor near Tukums[http://www.latvia.travel/de/sehenswurdigkeit/schloss-jaunmoku Schloss Jaunmoku] (sic!) auf latvia.travel. and the Commercial school in Riga (Now Art Academy of Latvia). The architect also restored many manors after the Revolution of 1905.
He also has designed a large number of churches and various industrial objects such as factories and water towers.
In the 1930s he designed an impressive memorial for him and his wife in Riga Great Cemetery. However, only his wife was buried there in 1939. He himself was forced to leave Latvia together with a majority of Baltic Germans and settled in Posen.
He died on 9 March 1945 in the bombing of Posen. His daughter buried him in the garden of their residence.Gunars Priede: Der Architekt Wilhelm Bockslaff und Riga, p. 60. After the war he was anonymously reburied in a local cemetery.
Honour
In honor of the architect's 150th birthday, a monument was erected in the park of Mālpils Manor.
File:Jaunmoku pils 1999-11-06 (2).jpg|Jaunmokas Manor. Built in 1901
File:Riga makslas akademija academy of art.jpg|Commercial School built in 1902–1905. (Now Art Academy of Latvia.)
File:Building in Riga 5.JPG|Building at the Amatu street 4, Old Riga. Built in 1903
File:Rīga, Krusta baznīca 2002-05-12.jpg| Church of the Cross, Riga. Built in 1910
File:Jauniela 25 29 02.JPG|Building in Jauniela 25/29 (Neuburg house) Old Riga. Built in 1903
File:Nometņu iela 47-8.JPG|Building at the Nometņu street 47 (1909)
File:Ūdenstornis, Rīga, Alīses iela 4.JPG|Water tower at the Alīses street 4, Riga. Built in 1910
File:Brīvības iela 137.JPG|Building of the former Leutner bicycle factory on Brīvības street 137 Riga. Built in 1894.
See also
References
{{Commons category|Wilhelm Bockslaff}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Latvia-architect-stub}}
{{Art Nouveau architecture in Riga}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bokslafs, Vilhelms}}
Category:Baltic-German people from the Russian Empire
Category:Art Nouveau architects
Category:Riga Technical University alumni
Category:Academic staff of Riga Technical University
Category:German civilians killed in World War II