Gabriel von Seidl (9 December 1848 – 27 April 1913) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

and a representative of the

historicist Historicism is an approach to explaining the existence of phenomena, especially social and cultural practices (including ideas and beliefs), by studying the process or history by which they came about. The term is widely used in philosophy, ant ...

style of architecture.

Early life, education and early career

Gabriel Seidl was born in 1848 in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

Kingdom of Bavaria The Kingdom of Bavaria ( ; ; spelled ''Baiern'' until 1825) was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1806 and continued to exist until 1918. With the unification of Germany into the German Empire in 1871, the kingd ...

. He was the first son of the wealthy baker Anton Seidl and his wife, Therese, daughter of the brewer Gabriel Sedlmayr. Seidl initially studied

mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanism (engineering), mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and engineering mathematics, mathematics principl ...

at the

Technical University of Munich The Technical University of Munich (TUM or TU Munich; ) is a public research university in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and applied and natural sciences. Established in 1868 by King Ludwig II ...

(TUM). He then worked as a mechanical engineer in England, where he found that his real talent lay in the field of architecture. Consequently, he began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. His studies were interrupted during 1870–1871 due to his volunteer participation in the

Franco-Prussian War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...

. After an extended period of study in Rome, he opened an

interior decoration Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a creative flair, an interior d ...

studio in 1878.

Career

Seidl was a member of the Bavarian Arts and Crafts Association, founded in 1851, and quickly won the admiration of its members, including Lorenz Gedon, Rudolf von Seitz, and Fritz von Miller. From 1866, Seidl, like his cousin Gabriel Ritter von Sedlmayr, was a member of the Corps Germania Munich. Not only was he a faithful corps brother till his death, he also drew the plans for the construction of the corps house, overseeing the progress of the work personally. In 1900, Seidl was awarded the Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown. Thereby, he was raised to the peerage and became Ritter von Seidl. In 1902, von Seidl founded the ''Isartalverein'' (''Isar Valley Association''), and the ''Who's Who'' of the elite Munich culture establishment soon joined. The association worked for the preservation of the natural beauty of the

Isar The Isar () is a river in Austria and in Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel mountain range of the Alps. The Isar river enters Germany near Mittenwald and flows through Krün, Wallgau, Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching ...

valley. The ''Isartalverein'' was founded in order to prevent further destruction of the Isar valley after the establishment of the first power plants in the Isar Valley by the electric power company Isarwerke GmbH. In 1903 and 1904, the first mass protests against grand engineering projects that altered

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

s were recorded in Germany. These mass protests were publicly supported by members of the

Wilhelmine The Wilhelmine period or Wilhelmian era () comprises the period of German history between 1888 and 1918, embracing the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II in the German Empire from the death of Kaiser Friedrich III until the end of World War I and Wilh ...

elite, such as

Werner Sombart Werner may refer to: People * Werner (name), origin of the name and people with this name as surname and given name Fictional characters * Werner (comics), a German comic book character * Werner Von Croy, a fictional character in the ''Tomb Rai ...

, and

Max Weber Maximilian Carl Emil Weber (; ; 21 April 186414 June 1920) was a German Sociology, sociologist, historian, jurist, and political economy, political economist who was one of the central figures in the development of sociology and the social sc ...

. The ''Bund Heimatschutz'' (abbreviated BHU, ''Federation Homelandprotection'') was, like the

National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

in Britain, assembled to appeal to as many Germans as possible. Theodor Fischer and von Seidl joined the BHU as Munich

city planner An urban planner (also known as town planner) is a professional who practices in the field of town planning, urban planning or city planning. An urban planner may focus on a specific area of practice and have a title such as city planner, tow ...

s and architects. In 1908, he was awarded the ''

Pour le Mérite The (; , ), also informally known as the ''Blue Max'' () after German WWI flying ace Max Immelmann, is an order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. Separated into two classes, each with their own designs, the was ...

''. Seidl was made an honorary citizen of

Speyer Speyer (, older spelling ; ; ), historically known in English as Spires, is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in the western part of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the r ...

on 14 April 1909 because of his construction of a new building for the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer. In 1913, he was made an honorary citizen of Munich.

Personal life

In 1890, Seidl married Franziska Neunzert, the daughter of a forester. Five children were born. His brother Emanuel von Seidl was also an architect, but because his work focused mainly on private residential buildings, he is not as well known today.

Death

Seidl died in 1913 in his residential and office building in Munich. Gabriel von Seidl is buried at the Alter Südfriedhof in Munich.

Honors

* Honorary curator of the

Bavarian National Museum The Bavarian National Museum () in Munich is one of the most important museums of decorative arts in Europe and List of largest art museums, one of the largest art museums in Germany. Since the beginning the collection has been divided into two ...

* Honorary member of the

Academy of Fine Arts, Munich The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (, also known as Munich Academy) is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany. It is located in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. In the second half of the 19th centur ...

* Royal Bavarian professor * Honorary doctorate from the

* Honorary Citizen of the city of

* Honorary citizen of the city of

* Honorary citizen of the town of

Bad Tölz Bad Tölz (; Bavarian: ''Däiz'') is a town in Bavaria, Germany and the administrative center of the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district. History Archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz since the retreat of the gla ...

Legacy

Gabriel von Seidl is the namesake of the ''Gabriel-von-Seidl-Gymnasium'' in

. Streets or squares are named after him in

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...

Gräfelfing Gräfelfing is a municipality in the district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 1 km west of Munich. The name "Gräfelfing" first appears as "Grevolvinga", which as per one hypothesis could possibly name a tribe leader named "gr ...

, Grünwald,

Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...

Pullach Pullach, officially Pullach i. Isartal (, ), is a municipality in the district of Munich (district), Munich in Bavaria in Germany. It lies on the Isar Valley Railway and is served by the S7 (Munich), S 7 line of the Munich S-Bahn, at the Großh ...

, and

Worms The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive catalogue and list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scien ...

. The ''Isartalverein'' erected a commemorative pillar in his memory in Pullach in 1922.

Selected works

Buedesheim Neues Schloss.jpg, New Castle Büdesheim, Büdesheim (Schöneck), 1885 Lenbachhaus.jpg, Lenbach Villa, Munich, 1887–1891 München Kaulbachvilla Front.JPG, Villa of the painter Friedrich August von Kaulbach, Munich, 1887–1889 Bavariaring 24 Muenchen-3.jpg, House on ''Bavariaring'' 24, Munich, 1888 Lenbachplatz 8 Kuenstlerhaus Muenchen-1.jpg, '' Künstlerhaus'' ("Artists' House") at Lenbachplatz, Munich, 1893–1900 Bayerisches Nationalmuseum Muenchen-1.jpg,

, Munich, 1894–1899 St. Anna Pfarrkirche Muenchen-5.jpg, St. Anna's Church,

Lehel Lehel (; died 955), a member of the Árpád dynasty, was a Magyar chieftain and, together with Bulcsú, one of the most important figures of the Hungarian invasions of Europe. After the Magyar defeat at the Battle of Lechfeld, he was executed i ...

, Munich, 1887–1892 Karlsplatz 7 Muenchen-1.jpg, Rondell buildings at Karlsplatz, Munich, 1899–1900 08-07-27+15-17-47+Schönau, Wasserschloss.JPG, Schönau Water Castle, Schönau (Rottal), 1899–1900 Schloss Lerbach.jpg, Lerbach Castle,

Bergisch Gladbach Bergisch Gladbach () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (district). Geography Bergisch Gladbach is east of the Rhine and abo ...

, 1900 Muenchen St Rupert aussen-2.jpg, St. Rupert's Church, Munich, 1901–1903 Ruffinihaus Muenchen-2.jpg, '' Ruffinihaus'' at '' Rindermarkt'' 10, Munich, 1903–1905 Schloss Neubeuern-2.jpg, Neubeuern Castle, construction of the middle tract, 1904–1908 Germania Munich Corpshaus.JPG, ''Corpshaus'' of the Corps Germania Munich Deutsches Museum Muenchen-1.jpg,

Deutsches Museum The Deutsches Museum (''German Museum'', officially (English: ''German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology'')) in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of science museum, science and technology museum, technology, with a ...

, Munich (begun in 1906; after Gabriel von Seidel's death in 1913 his brother Emanuel von Seidl continued the work until his own death in 1919; construction was completed in 1925) Speyer, Museum der Pfalz.JPG, Historical Museum of the Palatinate,

, 1907 RathausBremen-02-1.jpg, New Town Hall, Bremen, 1909–1913 Bad Tölz, Marienstift 2004-04.jpg, Redesign of ''Marienstift'',

Schloss Sandersdorf Südseite.jpg, Schloss Sandersdorf, renovation, 1900 G.v.Seidel.JPG, Grab auf dem Alten Südfriedhof München

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seidl, Gabriel von 1848 births 1913 deaths 19th-century German architects 19th-century German engineers 19th-century German male artists 20th-century German architects 20th-century German engineers 20th-century German male artists Academy of Fine Arts, Munich alumni Architects from Munich Burials at the Alter Südfriedhof Engineers from Munich German conservationists German expatriates in England German expatriates in Italy German founders German interior designers German mechanical engineers Historicist architects Organization founders Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class) Technical University of Munich alumni