Krakau A.I. (1817-1888), architect

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
KRAKAU Georg Alexander (Alexander Ivanovich) (1817-1888), architect, representative of the Academic School, one of the most influential experts on eclecticism. In 1826-39, he studied at the Academy of Arts. In 1838-39, he participated in the restoration work in the Winter Palace; in 1839-42 he collaborated in the building of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow (under the guidance of K.A. Ton). Krakau went to Italy in 1842 as a retainer of the Academy of Arts. On his return to St. Petersburg, he was on the staff of His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet from 1846. In 1854-65, he held a post in the First District Administration of Railway Transport and Public Buildings; from 1867 taught architecture in the Academy of Arts (professor from 1871). In 1870-82, he was appointed chief architect of Imperial Theatres. Krakau was one of the initiators of the foundation of the St. Petersburg Society of Architects. His major works include: the building of Peterhofsky Railway Station (1855-57) now known as , Baltiisky Railway Station; Baron A.L. Stieglitz' mansion on Angliiskaya Embankment (1859-63); a complex of administrational buildings together with the Central Telegraph Office (1860-1862); the buildings of Mariinsky Market (1863-1864); the building of the Central College of Technical Drawing (1878-1881); the Nurses' Communes Hospital (1882-1883). The architectural image of virtually all the listed buildings follows the style of the Florentine Renaissance, though several digressions from the style are evident, which is a typical feature of eclecticism. For example, the design of Stieglitz' mansion brings together ceremonial interior decorated a la Baroque, French Renaissance and Moorish style. Krakau's treatment of historical architectural styles was remarkable for its restrained and rational character. He was buried at Smolenskoe Orthodox Cemetery.

References: Александр Иванович Кракау // Зодчий. 1889. № 3/4. С. 20-22; Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XIX - начало XX века. СПб., 1998. С. 1003; Бурдяло А. В. Необарокко в архитектуре: Эклектика. Модерн. Неоклассика. СПб., 2002. С. 213-217.

A. V. Burdyalo. Krakau Georg Alexander (Alexander Ivanovich)
Stieglitz Alexander Ludwigovich, Baron
Ton Konstantin Andreevich
Angliiskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city
Александр Иванович Кракау // Зодчий, 1889
Бурдяло А. В. Необарокко в архитектуре: Эклектика. Модерн. Неоклассика. СПб., 2002
Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XIX – начало ХХ века. СПб., 1998 Historical style (Eclecticism)
Academy of Arts
Academy of Arts
Winter Palace
His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet
Imperial Theatres Board
Society of Architects, Petersburg
Society of Architects, Petersburg
Baltiysky Railway Station
Crafts Academy