Origins & Early Life

Karl Friedrich Schinkel (German pronunciation: [ˈkaʁl ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈʃɪŋkl̩]; 13 March 1781 – 9 October 1841) was a Prussian architect, city planner and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the greatest German architects, a nineteenth century design genius, and a leader in the International Neoclassical and Gothic Revival movements. His most famous buildings are found in and around Berlin, where he influenced the city's design and landscape profoundly. Schinkel's Bauakademie is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His Altes Museum is one of the most important classical buildings in Europe and a model for future national art museums throughout the world. Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of Brandenburg. When he was six, his father died in the disastrous Neuruppin fire of 1787. He became a student of architect Friedrich Gilly (1772–1800) (the two became close friends) and his father, David Gilly, in Berlin. At that time, the architectural taste in Prussia was shaped in Neoclassical style, mainly by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the architect of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After returning to Berlin from his first...

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