Johann Conrad Schlaun

Johann Conrad Schlaun was a German architect who is regarded as the most important builder of the Westphalian Baroque style. He was born in 1695 in Nörde, a village near Warburg, as the son of a patrimonial judge of the monastery of Hardehausen. He attended the Gymnasium Theodorianum in Paderborn, but left without a degree. He then pursued a military career and became an artillery officer and engineer in the service of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn. He also received training in architecture and land surveying. In 1713, he was paid by his father for his education in architecture. ² In 1723, he returned from a study trip that took him through southern Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Flanders. He was impressed by the works of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt in Vienna, Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra in Turin, François Mansart and Jules Hardouin-Mansart in Paris, and Daniel Marot in The Hague. He also learned from the local traditions of Westphalian timber framing and brick construction. ² He began his architectural career with the Capuchin church in Brakel in 1720. He soon gained the patronage of Ferdinand von Plettenberg, the Prince-Bishop of Münster, who commissioned him to build several churches and palaces in Münster and its surroundings. His most famous works include the Erbdrostenhof (1724–1731), a noble residence with a curved façade and a magnificent staircase; the Clemenskirche (1736–1745), a domed church with an elliptical plan and rich decoration; and the Schloss Nordkirchen (1724–1734), a grand palace inspired by Versailles and surrounded by an extensive park and canal system. He also designed many other buildings for the aristocracy and clergy, such as the Fürstenberg Palace (1746–1753) in Herdringen, the Droste zu Vischering Castle (1724–1733) in Darfeld, and the St. Ludgerus Church (1745–1750) in Coesfeld. ² Schlaun was not only an architect but also an engineer and a planner. He was involved in several military projects, such as fortifications and bridges. He also designed urban layouts and public spaces, such as the Prinzipalmarkt (1732–1736) in Münster, a row of gabled houses with arcades that form the main square of the city; and the Ludgeriplatz (1748–1753) in Münster, a circular plaza with a monumental obelisk commemorating St. Ludgerus. He also created festive decorations and fireworks for various occasions, such as the coronation of Emperor Charles VII in 1742. ² Schlaun was a prolific and versatile architect who combined the influences of various European styles with his own originality and creativity. He created a distinctive Westphalian Baroque style that is characterized by elegance, harmony, and dynamism. He was also a master of proportion, light, and color. His buildings are admired for their beauty, functionality, and durability. He died in 1773 in Münster and was buried in the Münster Cathedral. He left behind a rich legacy of architectural works that are still admired and preserved today. ²