Ludwig Baumann (architect)


Ludwig Baumann was an Austrian architect.

Life

Baumann grew up in a middle-class environment, which enabled him eventually to study at the ETH-Zurich. He came from a family of constructive expertise, as his father was a civil engineer. After completing his architectural studies, he was employed by Wienerberger Ziegelfabriks- und Bau-Gesellschaft beginning in 1876, and then by Viktor Rumpelmayer from 1879 to 1882. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Emil Bressler. Beginning in 1888 he served as a highly valued architect to the upper-middle class and aristocracy of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In particular, he enjoyed the favor and trust of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. In 1904 with Hermann Helmer he founded the Central Association of Architects.
Initially influenced by the international Renaissance revival due to his studies in Zurich with Gottfried Semper, around 1900 Baumann switched to a conservative Baroque-revival vocabulary as an Austrian “imperial style.” In 1907 he was appointed site manager of the New Hofburg, replacing Friedrich Ohmann. Between 1909 and 1913, his Austro-Hungarian War Ministry was erected as the last monumental building on the Ringstrasse. Baumann was also selected to design many buildings in the Lower Austrian city of Berndorf when it was significantly expanded under Arthur Krupp.
In 1929, still active in various planning projects, Baumann was hit by a bus near the Rochuskirche in Vienna. The injuries sustained could not heal properly, and Baumann spent his last three years in a wheelchair. His dedicated grave is located on the Zentralfriedhof.

Selected works