Vilhelms Bokslafs

Vilhelms Bokslafs (German: Wilhelm Ludwig Nicholas Bockslaff) (October 12, 1858, Riga - March 9, 1945, Poznań) was a Baltic German architect in Riga. He is considered one of the most important representatives of eclecticism, the neo-gothic and Art Nouveau. He is noted in particular for his construction of churches.

Biography

Wilhelm Bockslaff was born in Riga in 12th. October 1858. His father was a wealthy merchant and industrialist Nicholas Ludwig Bockslaff. In 1878 he started architecture studies in Riga Polytechnicum and graduated in 1885. After graduation he stayed in the polytechnikum to work as an assistant. He also worked in the offices of architect's Johann Koch and Heinrich Scheel. Later he established his own architects office. In this period he studied the history of St. Peter's church in Riga and other medieval buildings in the city. In 1894 he married Eva Riker.

Bockslaff worked mainly in eclectic styles especially in Neo-Gothic. However he also designed buildings in forms of Art Nouveau. Most notable buildings are Jaunmokas Manor near Tukums and Commercial school in Riga (Now Art Academy of Latvia). Architect also restored many manors after the Revolution of 1905. He also has designed large number of churches and various industrial objects like factories and water towers.

In 1930ties he designed an impressive memorial for him and his wife in Riga Great Cemetery. However only his wife was buried there in 1939. He himself was forced to left Latvia together with majority of Baltic Germans and settled in Posen. He died in March 9, 1945 in Posen. His daughter buried him in the garden of their residence. After the war he was anonymously reburied in a local cemetery.

In honor of architects 150th. birthday a monument was erected in the park of Mālpils Manor.