Detlef Lienau

Detlef Lienau ( born February 17, 1818 in Uetersen; † August 29, 1887 in New York ) was a Holstein from originating, American architect. He brought French stylistic elements into American architecture, particularly the mansard roof with its decorative ornaments. He was educated at the Ecole des Beaux -Arts in Paris. Lienau designed country houses, villas, apartment buildings, hotels, banks, malls, churches, schools, libraries, office buildings, factories, railway stations and a museum. Clients and colleagues appreciated him as one of the most creative and technically most competent architects of his time. He was one of the 13 founding members of the American Institute of Architects.

Life

Born in the city was still under Danish supremacy Uetersen in Holstein, wandered Detlef Lienau 1848 in the United States. On 11 May 1853 he married Catherine Van Giesen Booraem. It was his first marriage and her second. Of the five children of the couple survived, only the eldest son of J. August. All others died at a young age. J. August followed in the footsteps of his father and became an architect. After he had taken his father in 1887, the office, he designed primarily residential buildings. Later he formed a partnership with Thomas Nash, which lasted until the 1920s. Detlef Lienau had another son, J. Henry, who was born in 1871, 10 years after the death of his wife Catherine. 1935 donated J. Henry Lienau the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University 800 architectural drawings, photographs, and other documents of his father. There they are archived to date. Detlef Lienau died on August 29, 1887 in New York City.

Work in the U.S.

Detlef Lienau belonged to a fairly small group of academically trained architects who had come mostly from Europe only recently. They all brought the traditions of the Old World to the New World, but in one respect Lienau differed from his colleagues: Formed by his youth in the Danish -influenced northern Germany, his apprenticeship in several German art centers and in Paris, his approach was more international. In a world characterized by nationalism era that was a rarity. The fusion of different traditions enabled him to quickly adapt to the American life and to successfully meet the demands of an increasingly eclectic time. Moreover brought Lienau, not Richard Morris Hunt, through contact with Henri Labrouste the tradition of the French École des Beaux -Arts in the United States.

Lienaus career clearly illustrates the contributions of European-trained architects to American architecture. Its main importance for American Architecture 1850-1885 is not alone in the use of the Victorian style, not even in general eclecticism. It is rather the classical orientation of his entire work. His work forms a flowing stream of conservatism in American architecture. This was sometimes masked by the prevailing picturesque style of the period, the Victorian High Gothic and the Second Empire with anti-classical tendencies. Lienaus work forms a bridge between the classic style traditions of the second quarter of the 19th century and their resurgence in the 1880s, a movement that was led in New York by the firm of McKim, Mead & White.

Among the architects who Lienau has influenced include Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and John Paul Pelz, both worked in Lienaus office. After Hardenberg's statement Lienau never had more than six men in his office so he could devote enough time. By continuing influence of his students to Lienaus influence continued into the 20th century on.

Whether he designed simple country houses or large mansions - Lienau found many ways to bring his ideas to the customer's requirements in line and translate it into an appropriate form. Following architectural styles and fashions can be found in his work again: The "Chalet and Stick style " of his early country houses, the Italian Villa, the monumental tradition of the French Renaissance, finally Queen Anne style and Colonial Revival.

Work in Germany

A few buildings were designed by Detlef Lienaus designs in Germany. His brother Michael Lienau, who had emigrated to America, returned as a wealthy wine merchant back to his home in Uetersen. In neighboring Moorrege he left in 1872 the so-called Castle Düneck build according to the plans of his brother Detlef. It is a castle-like villa which is unique with its French style elements in northern Germany. In addition, Detlef Lienau designed the much simpler family home in Uetersen.

Buildings

Cottenet - Brown House ( Nuits ) ( 1852)

Castle Düneck in Moorrege (1872 )

Tulip Wood, House, by J. August Lienau designed (1892 )

Some of Lienaus most important projects are listed in the following. The italics are in the National Register of Historic Places of the United States.