Alexander Sandor Neumann

Alexander Neumann was born in 1861 in Bielsko Heinz village in the former Austrian Silesia, where his father in nearby Teschen (Ciescyn, PI) had a factory. The good financial situation of his home allowed him to complete by the end of the school in Bielsko the desired architectural education at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna. His talent for it was already evident during the study, because he received a number of scholarships. After completing his studies with completion of the 2nd State testing was completed, he embarked on a long study trip to Italy, Spain and France.

Returned, he started his practical training at Oberbaurat Niedzielski. He then joined the studio of Fellner Helmer, where he worked as a studio chief at many of their theaters. During his tenure there, he was able to realize some private contractor. When he retired after three years from the Studio Hellmer Fellner, he took the city architect and became self-examination. Quite successful, he built several houses and villas and rental, including buildings in association with a former fellow student, Louis Schmidl.

Alexander Neumann was already with the establishment of a bank building for the Wr. Union Bank in Prague have been busy. In Vienna he succeeded then, together with his former classmates Gotthilf Ernst, who had worked with him at Helmer Fellner, the only competition for the building of Wr. Union Bank to decide for themselves. The two then founded in 1909 a joint practice. In a short time was able to architect Neumann, both with his partner Gotthilf, but also alone, in a sought-after specialists in the construction of bank buildings not only in Austria and the countries of the Danube monarchy, but also abroad profiled. The architect team built together not only bank and office buildings, apartment buildings and palaces but also where they occurred partly as builders.

Received by the architects during the First World War, despite the stagnation in the construction industry still significant orders, were executed in the difficult post-war period in the absence of financially strong client only a few buildings. Neumann's son Frederick joined after completing his architectural studies in 1923, one in his father's law firm community. Neumann sen. withdrew gradually from the building and left it to the son. With the overthrow of the political situation in Austria Neumann, was of Jewish origin, was forced to emigrate. In May 1939 he and his wife emigrated first to Australia. The son, who had come to England to New Zealand, awaited them. In Wellington, New Zealand, Alexander Neumann died eight years later in the 88th Of age.

top Status Alexander Neumann's buildings reflect the full diversity of stylistic design methods, the architecture of Vienna at the turn of the century were available. Neumann also stood by his training under King Charles a rather conservative, close to the tradition committed form, so he was the new modern trends to have an open mind. As before, for it was but the historicist view largely reflect the design language of the respective construction project. So he used for palace-like apartment buildings for a long time preferred forms of neo-baroque décor. It was thus the one hand the need for representation into account, but also suggests a ennoblement of the owner (Vienna 3, Ungargasse 53). Buildings in the countryside, in turn lent components in wood, timber, an asymmetrical building design and the use of rural-sounding, partly borrowed from the local building forms the character of the country house (Vienna 18, Pötzleinsdorfer Road 34). With its big-city apartment buildings Neumann succeeded in connection with neo-baroque secessionist motives as well as in the acquisition of design trends of the Wagner School (Vienna 9, Porzellangasse 39) a solid and successful design. With generously sized apartments situated in good residential areas and the high expectations they have a sensitivity to the representation of middle class correspond perfectly.

The focus in Neumann's work, however, form the bank building. Criteria of these buildings were greatest in the interior functionality and impressive representation to the outside. One of his major works, together with the architect, the building of Gotthilf Wr. Bank Corporation (Vienna 1, Scots 6-8) offers a clear and concise Space Agency, which allowed an efficient business processing. Among other things, put on a good exposure value of the work areas, so evident in the main hall of the basilica switch through skylight areas were not (as in Otto Wagner's Post Office Savings Bank building), the middle, which moves in the flow of customers. The latest technical achievements have been used and the building equipped with various electrical safety devices, a modern central heating system, even a built-in vacuum cleaning system. In addition to the advanced technical standards, which corresponded to the modernity of the banking institution in the economy, they listened carefully but in a tasteful and sophisticated equipment with high quality materials (different types of marble, fine woods and metals), which should improve the quality criteria soundness and stability of value to be addressed. Particularly important in the Bankbauten impressive representation to the outside was mostly achieved through increased pompous monumentality. According to the understanding of the time content was expressed not only by the use of appropriate materials, but also by forms of architecture. The building of the Wr. Bank Corporation should, like many other bank buildings radiate, durability, safety and conservatism. With the use of forms of classical tradition, especially the ancient world - a heavy stepped pediment, Doric columns of the portico, the sculptures - terms such as the stability and immutability of eternal values ​​have been addressed, and so the trustworthiness and reliability (the Bank) should be taught . The stone facade of the building and the most dense grating of floor area pointed to the permanence of the institution and the safe protection of entrusted funds.

A clear and surprisingly modern solution developed by the architects for the office building of the "anchor" insurance, where it only the core of the spatial development of architecturally formulated (main hall and main staircase, now destroyed). All other areas remain freely available for changing space requirements. The impressive exterior, however, was equipped with the conventional at that time popular neo-classical forms, which even at the residences of the two were often used. The facades are accented with columns or pilasters in great order, the inputs are highlighted with portico-like framing, the windows are partially decorated with lunettes decorated. Even the extremely sharp-angled corner of the palace of the former oil magnate Fanto on Schwarzenberg Square is decorated with a colossal order imposing klassizierende which, crowned by a dome, alludes to the motif of the circular temple, the magnificent baroque façade design elements complete.

The success of the architect duo is due to the fact that he succeeded in convincing to realize the respective functions perfectly appropriate modern concepts of space, while preserving traditional aesthetic values. It created so that architectural works that still impress.

Source: http://www.architektenlexikon.at/

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