Gotthilf Ludwig Möckel


Gotthilf Ludwig Möckel or Ludwig Möckel was a German architect, most notable for his large number of Neo Gothic churches, including the Johanneskirche and Erlöserkirche in Dresden, the Erlöserkirche and the Samariterkiche in Berlin and St John's Church in Smyrna.

General Information

Family

Gotthilf Ludwig Möckel was the first child of the Zwickau coppersmith Gotthilf Heinrich Möckel and his second wife Caroline Rosine Möckel. He married on June 25, 1866 in Zwickau Emilie Amalie Christiane Schlegel, a daughter of the bricklayer of Göttingen and Senator Carl Schlegel. The marriage resulted in five sons and two daughters: Erwin, Johannes, Elsa, Erich, Hermann, Käthe and Ludwig.

Education and Work

After attending a public school from 1844 to 1852 in Zwickau, he studied from 1852 to 1853 at the Royal Trade School in Chemnitz, then he apprenticed until 1856 as a bricklayer in Zwickau. At the same time he studied at the Königlichen Baugewerkschule Chemnitz. He worked from 1856 to 1858 as a bricklayer and later as a construction manager.1858 to 1859, he worked as a draftsman as the senior engineering office of the Upper Ore Mountain State Railways in Chemnitz and worked in the architectural office of Edwin Oppler in Hanover, he then attended in 1861 to 1862 as a guest student at the Polytechnic Hannover, this school taught Gothic architecture, and was known for North German medieval brick building. This shaped Möckel, so that he can later design buildings with the style of neo-Gothic brick architecture. His first project he took part in was the construction of the mental institution in Göttingen, as a construction technician and assistant to architect Julius Rasch. At the end of 1865, Möckel applied to the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Dresden for approval, then in 1867 he got accepted.

Work

Zwickau und Dresden

St. John's Church Dresden 1889, southeastern view. In 1866, Möckel moved back to his hometown in Zwickau. There he worked until 1875 as a freelance architect. During this time, he designed mainly unpainted neo-gothic houses and villas. With these buildings, Möckel set new accents in the cityscape of Zwickau. In Planitz, one of Ludwigs highlights was the Lukaskirche. In 1875, Möckel moved to Dresden due to work. There he worked until 1885, as a freelance architect and designed mainly church's and palace's. Among other things, he designed the Johanneskirche which is considered to be his main work. He also, restored the St.-Nikolai-Kirche in Löbau. In recognition of his achievements, he was appointed on March 3, 1881 by the Academy of Fine Arts Dresden honorary member. Möckel joined two professional associations. After architect Julius Rasch recommended him for membership, he was admitted to the Architects and Engineers Club Hannover in 1865. In 1873, he was admitted into the Leipzig based Saxon Engineering and Architects Association.

[Bad Doberan]

In the summer of 1877, Möckel was in Doberan to participate in the Maßnahmen zur Bestandserhaltung des achteckigen ossuary in the northeast side of Münster. Later the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III visited the ossuary. They exchanged letters, which started the idea to restore other parts of the Doberan monastery, and lead to the construction of a hunting lodge and the construction of the katholischen Kapelle in Heiligendamm. In 1883, the restoration of the Doberan Minster by the Grand Ducal Chamber of Church Affairs in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, to the stilfesten Baumeister. Until 1896, the extensive restoration work, which required his constant presence, so that he can receive permanent residence in Doberan from 1885. To this end, he had 1887 to 1888 build a prestigious villa in neo-Gothic style in a prime location.
On November 11, 1886, Möckel became a technical advisory board for church construction in the Grand Ducal Chamber and thus head of Mecklenburg-Schwerin church building. For his services in the civil service, he was awarded on March 19, 1897 the character of a Privy Building Council and on October 3, 1900, of a Secret Court Building. He remained until his retirement on September 30, 1915 because of his responsibility to the church.
Möckel continued to work as a freelancer. Many buildings, such as residential and commercial buildings, villas, schools,and other public buildings, including the Ständehaus Rostock, and the castle Gelbensande were built according to his designs. He also supported the Schwerin museum director Hofrat Friedrich Schlie, who like Möckel, was a member of the Grand Ducal Commission for the Conservation of Monuments, in the publication of the extensive reference work The Art and History Monuments of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
At the age of 77 years, the seriously ill Möckel applied for his retirement, a few weeks later he died.

Work Timeline

Ludwig Möckel participated in 131 construction and planning projects, including 86 church constructions and renovations.