Sunday, June 27, 2010

Karl Friedrich Schinkel as a Design Inspiration

I always return to Schinkel's work when I'm thinking about Architectural 'Revival' styles. In many ways I prefer his work to original works of the historic periods from which they draw. His buildings are a balanced synthesis of Historicism and Romanticism transcending the limitations of each category. The body of work he created is enthusiastic, energetic and original in a way that is precicely opposite the tired repetition that often plagues neo-classical and other historic revival buildings.


Schinkel worked as the ‘Architect in Chief’ for the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815- 1841. His work is best known through a remarkable folio known as the "Sammlung Architektonischer Entwurfe". I'm privileged to own a copy acquired from Exedra Press when they published a facimile edition in 1982. The draftsmanship of the plates in the Schinkel folio immediately seduces any who appreciate beautiful architectural drawings. They illustrate buildings of remarkable beauty and grace. The evocative style of drawings and buildings influenced many at Columbia University School of Architecture in the early '80's, including myself. This folio is now out of print and hard to find, but someday I'll track down the successor to Exedra press and encourage them to reissue it for a new audience. That would be a worthwhile project!

Unfortunately there are few internet resources on Schinkel. This is what I've been able to find:

Roman Baths near the Charlottenhof Palace
Altes Museum, Berlin 1823-1830
Casino Glienicke
Babelsburg Palace