Paul Max Bertschy (Latvian: Pauls Makss Berči; 1 January 1840 – 1 February 1911) was a Baltic German architect, working mainly in what is now Latvia. He was city architect of Liepāja for more than 30 years and designed numerous both public and private buildings for the city, around 70 of which are extant.
Former district court, today Liepāja City Council, by Bertschy
Paul Max Bertschy was born in Strausberg in Germany, in a family of carpenters.[1][2] He was one of nine children.[2] He studied in Berlin and also abroad.[1][2] He left Berlin due to its fierce competition and sought a career as an architect in the what are now the Baltic states.[2] The first years of his career he worked for several different architectural firms.[1] From 1860 to 1864, he was in Riga working in the firm of Heinrich Scheel. He then moved to Daugavpils, where he was engaged in the construction of a railway line between Daugavpils and Vitebsk. At the same time he accepted separate commissions and took on Wilhelm Neumann as his pupil.[2]
In 1871 he was invited to become city architect of Liepāja by the mayor of the city, and he would keep the position until 1902.[1] At the time, the city experienced a rapid growth due to industrialization and trade, and through his many commissions Bertschy contributed significantly to the architecture of the city. He worked mainly in medievalist styles such as Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque. Red brick, or a mix of red brick and other materials, was often favoured by Bertschy. His range was broad, and he designed private residences as well as religious and public buildings. Despite many of these buildings having been destroyed during World War II, more than 70 buildings designed by Bertschy are extant in Liepāja.[3] This includes the former spa hospital (1871–1875), the Liepāja Gymnasium building (today owned by University of Liepāja) (1883–1884), the Lutheran Church of Saint Anne (1892–1893), the former district court building (now City Council), and numerous residential buildings.[1][2][3][4]
Bertschy died in Liepāja in 1911. His archive is in Liepāja Museum. Many of the buildings which he designed are today marked with plaques bearing his name.[3][5]
^ abcdef"Paul Max Bertschy". Visit Daugavpils. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^ abc"Bertschy heritage". Liepāja municipality. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^"Liepājas arhīvs Paula Maksa Berči projektētajā ēkā" (in Latvian). Regional State Archive of Liepāja. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^"Zudusī Liepāja Paula Maksa Berči arhīvā" (in Latvian). Liepāja Museum. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
Further reading
Lacmanis, Imants; Bertschy, Angelika (2011). Bertschy: arhitekta Paula Maksa Berči un viņa dēlu devums Liepājai (in Latvian). Valters un Rapa. ISBN9789984805764.
External links
Media related to Paul Max Bertschy at Wikimedia Commons
Map with buildings by Bertschy in central Liepāja
January 06, 2023
paul, bertschy, latvian, pauls, makss, berči, january, 1840, february, 1911, baltic, german, architect, working, mainly, what, latvia, city, architect, liepāja, more, than, years, designed, numerous, both, public, private, buildings, city, around, which, extan. Paul Max Bertschy Latvian Pauls Makss Berci 1 January 1840 1 February 1911 was a Baltic German architect working mainly in what is now Latvia He was city architect of Liepaja for more than 30 years and designed numerous both public and private buildings for the city around 70 of which are extant Paul Max Bertschy Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksBiography Edit Former district court today Liepaja City Council by Bertschy Paul Max Bertschy was born in Strausberg in Germany in a family of carpenters 1 2 He was one of nine children 2 He studied in Berlin and also abroad 1 2 He left Berlin due to its fierce competition and sought a career as an architect in the what are now the Baltic states 2 The first years of his career he worked for several different architectural firms 1 From 1860 to 1864 he was in Riga working in the firm of Heinrich Scheel He then moved to Daugavpils where he was engaged in the construction of a railway line between Daugavpils and Vitebsk At the same time he accepted separate commissions and took on Wilhelm Neumann as his pupil 2 In 1871 he was invited to become city architect of Liepaja by the mayor of the city and he would keep the position until 1902 1 At the time the city experienced a rapid growth due to industrialization and trade and through his many commissions Bertschy contributed significantly to the architecture of the city He worked mainly in medievalist styles such as Neo Gothic and Neo Romanesque Red brick or a mix of red brick and other materials was often favoured by Bertschy His range was broad and he designed private residences as well as religious and public buildings Despite many of these buildings having been destroyed during World War II more than 70 buildings designed by Bertschy are extant in Liepaja 3 This includes the former spa hospital 1871 1875 the Liepaja Gymnasium building today owned by University of Liepaja 1883 1884 the Lutheran Church of Saint Anne 1892 1893 the former district court building now City Council and numerous residential buildings 1 2 3 4 Bertschy died in Liepaja in 1911 His archive is in Liepaja Museum Many of the buildings which he designed are today marked with plaques bearing his name 3 5 References Edit a b c d e Neumann Wilhelm 1908 Lexikon baltischer Kunstler in German Riga p 14 a b c d e f Paul Max Bertschy Visit Daugavpils Retrieved 19 July 2020 a b c Bertschy heritage Liepaja municipality Retrieved 19 July 2020 Liepajas arhivs Paula Maksa Berci projektetaja eka in Latvian Regional State Archive of Liepaja Retrieved 19 July 2020 Zudusi Liepaja Paula Maksa Berci arhiva in Latvian Liepaja Museum 29 May 2020 Retrieved 19 July 2020 Further reading EditLacmanis Imants Bertschy Angelika 2011 Bertschy arhitekta Paula Maksa Berci un vina delu devums Liepajai in Latvian Valters un Rapa ISBN 9789984805764 External links Edit Media related to Paul Max Bertschy at Wikimedia Commons Map with buildings by Bertschy in central Liepaja Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Max Bertschy amp oldid 1009862580, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
