Otto Meitinger
Encyclopedia
Otto Meitinger is a German architect
and preservationist
. From 1987 to 1995 he was president of the Technical University Munich.
, finished his Staatsexamen
and got hie doctorate
on the building history of the Munich Residenz.
From 1953 to 1963 he was Director of the Residenz Building Offices and in charge of the reconstruction of the Munich Residenz, including the Cuvilliés Theatre
, court chappel, treasure chamber and Ornate Rooms (Reichen Zimmer). At that time the reconstruction of the Residenz was considered as example for the reconstruction of war-destroyed historical buildings all over Europe. From 1963 to 1976 he was head of the building department of the Max Planck Society
and responsible for over 60 new institute buildings, domestic and abroad.
1976 he became Professor
for Design and Preservation
at the Technical University of Munich. 1987 he was elected President of the University and stayed in office until his retirement in 1995. "He took the chance of generation change and won first class professors to secure the leading position of the TU in teaching and research."
Meitinger is member of a variety of professional societies and committees, i.e. at the German Academy of town planning (Deutschen Akademie für Städtebau), the Bavarian State Archtectural Art Committee (Bayerischen Landesbaukunstausschuss), the State Memorial Committee (Landesdenkmalrat), the selection committees of the Bavarian State Foundation and the Hypo-Art-Foundation (Bayerischen Landesstiftung/Hypo-Kulturstiftung) and the board of trustees of the Philip Morris Foundation (Kuratorium der Philip Morris Stiftung).
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and preservationist
Preservationist
Preservationist is generally understood to mean historic preservationist: one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects or sites from demolition or degradation...
. From 1987 to 1995 he was president of the Technical University Munich.
Life
Meitinger was born as son of the first municipal architect of Munich Karl Meitinger. He studied at the Technical University Munich architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, finished his Staatsexamen
Staatsexamen
The ' is a German government licensing examination that future doctors, teachers, pharmacists, food chemists and jurists have to pass to be allowed to work in their profession. The examination is generally organized by government examination agencies which are under the authority of the...
and got hie doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
on the building history of the Munich Residenz.
From 1953 to 1963 he was Director of the Residenz Building Offices and in charge of the reconstruction of the Munich Residenz, including the Cuvilliés Theatre
Cuvilliés Theatre
The Cuvilliés Theatre or Old Residence Theatre is the former court theatre of the Residenz in Munich, southern Germany.- Description :...
, court chappel, treasure chamber and Ornate Rooms (Reichen Zimmer). At that time the reconstruction of the Residenz was considered as example for the reconstruction of war-destroyed historical buildings all over Europe. From 1963 to 1976 he was head of the building department of the Max Planck Society
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
and responsible for over 60 new institute buildings, domestic and abroad.
1976 he became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
for Design and Preservation
Preservation
Preservation may refer to:* Heritage preservation:** Historic preservation, of buildings, monuments, etc.** Preservation , of books, recordings, etc.** Conservation , of the natural environment...
at the Technical University of Munich. 1987 he was elected President of the University and stayed in office until his retirement in 1995. "He took the chance of generation change and won first class professors to secure the leading position of the TU in teaching and research."
Meitinger is member of a variety of professional societies and committees, i.e. at the German Academy of town planning (Deutschen Akademie für Städtebau), the Bavarian State Archtectural Art Committee (Bayerischen Landesbaukunstausschuss), the State Memorial Committee (Landesdenkmalrat), the selection committees of the Bavarian State Foundation and the Hypo-Art-Foundation (Bayerischen Landesstiftung/Hypo-Kulturstiftung) and the board of trustees of the Philip Morris Foundation (Kuratorium der Philip Morris Stiftung).
Important Work
- Recreation of the Residenz, Munich
- Palazzo ZuccariPalazzetto ZuccariPalazzetto or Palazzo Zuccari is a 16th century building in Rome, at the crossroads of via Sistina and via Gregoriana, on the piazza Trinità dei Monti. It was built by Federico Zuccari....
, Rome - Kaulbach-Villa, Munich
- Rebuilding of Hammerschmidt VillaHammerschmidt VillaVilla Hammerschmidt was designated the official residence of the President of Germany in 1951. Located in the former West German capital of Bonn, it remained the official residence of the President until the government offices were returned to the recently-reunified Berlin in 1994...
, Bonn - Rebuilding of Bellevue Palace, Berlin
- Marstallplatz, Munich
Honours and Destinctions
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and ArtBavarian Maximilian Order for Science and ArtThe Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art was first established on 28 November 1853 by King Maximilian II. von Bayern. It is awarded to acknowledge and reward excellent and outstanding achievements in the field of science and art...
(1991) - Bavarian Order of MeritBavarian Order of MeritThe Bavarian Order of Merit is the order of merit of the Free State of Bavaria. It is awarded by the Minister-President of Bavaria as a "recognition of outstanding contributions to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people"....
- Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz)
- Medal Bene Merenti in Silver of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesBavarian Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesThe Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities is an independent public institution, located in Munich. It appoints scholars whose research has contributed considerably to the increase of knowledge within their subject...
(1959) - Commanders Cross of the Etoile noir of the French Legion of Honour
- Knight of the Order of St. SylvesterOrder of St. SylvesterThe Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr , sometimes referred to as the Sylvestrine Order, or the Pontifical Order of Pope St Sylvester, is one of five Orders of Knighthood awarded directly by the Pope as Supreme Pontiff and head of the Catholic Church and as the Head of...
, - Golden Honorary Coin of the City of Munich (1995) (Goldene Ehrenmünze der Stadt München).
- Honorary citizen of the city of Munich (2005)
- Founding Member of the European Academy of Sciences and ArtsEuropean Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe European Academy of Sciences and Arts was created in 1990 in Salzburg, Austria by heart surgeon Felix Unger of Salzburg; the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, Franz König; and the political scientist and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz....
(1990)
Literature
- Lehrstuhl für Entwerfen und Denkmalpflege TU München: Otto Meitinger : Architekt - Denkmalpfleger - Hochschullehrer München 1997
External links
- "Professor Dr. Otto Meitinger neuer Münchner Ehrenbürger" (in German), Press notice, City of Munich, 2005.
- Professor Dr.-Ing. Otto Meitinger wird 80 (in German), Bayerische Ingenieurekammer-Bau, 2007.
- Otto Meitinger wird 80 (in German), Press Notice. TU Munich. 30 April 2007.