Elmar Lohk
Encyclopedia
Elmar Lohk was an Estonian
architect. After spending his childhood in his birthplace and in Shanghai
, he moved to Darmstadt
in 1921, where he graduated from the Darmstadt University of Technology
in 1925. After graduation he worked in Tallinn
until 1943. He was among the main architects of Tallinn from 1928 to 1940. In 1934 he created his own architecture bureau.
In 1943 Lohk went to Finland to work at the bureau of Alvar Aalto
. Soon, in 1944, he again moved, this time to Göteborg, Sweden. There, he designed many hospitals and created a bureau in 1960.
Many of his buildings in Tallinn are now valued as great examples of 1930s architecture, for example the prominent Scandic Hotel Palace on Freedom Square. His creation can be categorised as functionalism
with some influence of art deco
, Chicago school
and traditional art.
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
architect. After spending his childhood in his birthplace and in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, he moved to Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
in 1921, where he graduated from the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
in 1925. After graduation he worked in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
until 1943. He was among the main architects of Tallinn from 1928 to 1940. In 1934 he created his own architecture bureau.
In 1943 Lohk went to Finland to work at the bureau of Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
. Soon, in 1944, he again moved, this time to Göteborg, Sweden. There, he designed many hospitals and created a bureau in 1960.
Many of his buildings in Tallinn are now valued as great examples of 1930s architecture, for example the prominent Scandic Hotel Palace on Freedom Square. His creation can be categorised as functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
with some influence of art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
, Chicago school
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
and traditional art.