Erwin van Aaken

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Erwin van Aaken (born May 9, 1904 in Straelen , † January 28, 2008 in Würzburg ) was a German architect who became known for a large number of Catholic church buildings.

Life

Erwin van Aaken was born in Straelen on the Lower Rhine as the oldest of eight children. After attending grammar school in his place of birth, he worked in his father's architectural office from 1923 before studying architecture at the Technical University of Munich from 1925 to 1927 . At the beginning of his studies he became a member of the Catholic student association Trifels. He interrupted his studies to work as a draftsman in his uncle Albert Boßlet 's office. From 1928 to 1930 he continued his studies and graduated with a degree in engineering .

As early as 1928 he had been given his uncle's construction office in Regensburg , which he managed until 1932. Here he was responsible for the construction of the hospital of the Barmherzigen Brüder as well as for the hospital in Schwandorf . In 1932 he then worked as a construction trainee at the Landbauamt Bamberg and at the University Building Authority of Würzburg.

Appointed government architect ( assessor in the public building administration) in 1933, he decided in 1934 to work as a freelance architect and to continue working with Albert Boßlet. From 1940 onwards, van Aaken worked as a structural engineer at the Bavarian State Trade Organization in Würzburg, until he was drafted into military service in 1942 and assigned as a non-commissioned officer to build roads and bridges on the Eastern Front. He completed an officer training until January 1945 and then came to the construction pioneer battalion 476 in Treuburg . Van Aaken was shot through the leg and was taken prisoner by the British in Heiligenhafen .

After his release from captivity, he returned to Würzburg and founded a working group together with his uncle Albert Boßlet in 1945. It was only after Boßlet's death in 1957 that he continued the office independently. His marriage in 1948 had four children by 1955. His eldest son Stephan joined the office in 1978 and continued it when his father retired in 1996 at the age of 92.

Erwin van Aaken died on January 28, 2008 at the age of 103 in Würzburg.

plant

Erwin van Aaken became known nationwide for his church buildings, which were shaped by his long-term collaboration with Albert Boßlet . He found his own style after Boßlet's death in 1957 and the continuation of the previously shared office. The church buildings in the 1960s and 1970s show the development of an individual artistic profile that reveals the fundamental influences of Bosslet. In church construction, van Aaken designed unmistakable room shapes with a preference for skylights or indirect light.

During his time together with Boßlet he worked on such important buildings as the monastery church of Münsterschwarzach , the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Mariannhill and the parish church of Our Lady in Würzburg. His life's work includes over 160 churches in Germany. There are also numerous rectories, kindergartens and community centers. Even demanding renovation projects, such as B. the Augustinerkirche in Würzburg, counted to his range of activities.

Buildings (selection)

literature

  • Ulrich Coenen: The Catholic parish church Herz-Jesu in the Baden-Baden district of Varnhalt. A late work by Albert Boßlet. In: The Ortenau. Journal of the Historical Association for Mittelbaden , vol. 88 (2008), pp. 355–364.

Web links

Commons : Erwin van Aaken  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Aaken, Erwin van
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German architect
DATE OF BIRTH May 9, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH Straelen
DATE OF DEATH January 28, 2008
Place of death Wurzburg