Georg Friedrich Heinrich Hitzig shaped the Prussian urban landscape through a prolific career centered in Berlin. Born in 1811, he studied at the Bauakademie under Karl Friedrich Schinkel before establishing his own practice in 1835. His output spanned from aristocratic country residences to significant institutional structures within the capital, defining the aesthetic trajectory of mid-nineteenth-century German architecture.
Professional Rise and Institutional Leadership
Hitzig’s influence grew through his deep involvement with the Prussian Academy of Arts. Joining as a member in 1855, he ascended to senator in 1868 and served as president by 1875. In 1880, he took the role of department head for building construction at the Academy of Civil Engineering. His international perspective was informed by extended educational journeys to Italy, Egypt, and Greece between 1845 and 1864.
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His portfolio included numerous manor houses, such as Schloss Neetzow, Schloss Kittendorf, Schloss Kartlow, and Bredenfelde Castle. In Berlin, his work included the Berliner Börse, constructed between 1859 and 1864, and the Reichsbank on Jägerstraße, designed in 1869. He also executed designs for the Disconto-Gesellschaft head office and the Technische Hochschule in Charlottenburg. His reach extended internationally with the Palazzo Revoltella in Trieste and the Kronenberg Palace in Warsaw.
Urban Projects and Recognitions
Beyond private residences, Hitzig transformed public and commercial spaces, including a markethall at Am Zirkus 1 that later housed the Großes Schauspielhaus. He managed the refurbishing of the Zeughaus in Berlin starting in 1877 and oversaw renovations at Remplin Palace. His technical contributions were recognized with the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1859 and the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts in 1881.
Fast facts
- Born: 1811, Berlin
- Died: 1881, Berlin
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
- Education: Bauakademie
- Notable work: Schloss Neetzow
- Notable work: Schloss Kittendorf
- Notable work: Schloss Kartlow
- Buried: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Where did Friedrich Hitzig receive his architectural training?
He was educated at the Bauakademie in Berlin and was a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
What major awards did he receive for his work?
He was awarded the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1859 and the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts in 1881.
Achievements
- Notable work: Schloss Neetzow
- Notable work: Schloss Kittendorf
- Notable work: Schloss Kartlow
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
- Trained at Bauakademie
