Bartol Felbinger

Zagreb architect Bartol Juraj Felbinger (Cheb, Czech Republic, 15 September, 1785 – Zagreb, 17 February, 1871) was the most significant and productive Croatian architect of the first half of the 19th century, as well as a prominent representative of classicist architecture in Zagreb and continental Croatia.

As the son of a builder, Felbinger arrived to Vienna from his hometown of Cheb at the age of twelve to begin his apprenticeship, where he worked as a masonry assistant under F. Wipplinger and F. Zauner, director of the Academy of Fine Arts. He later worked as a draughtsman on the construction of the Laxenburg Castle.

Felbinger arrived in Zagreb in 1809. His first project in Zagreb, in 1811, was a design for the existing condition of the bell tower of St. Mark’s Church, which needed repairs. In 1813, he built a high wall to support the way from Mesnička ulica towards the Southern promenade (today Strossmayer’s Promenade).

He became known as an excellent decorator, designing sketches for arches, triumphal gates, squares, and walls for the visit of Emperor Francis II to Zagreb. He was a very successful architect throughout continental Croatia, but we will highlight his most important achievements in Zagreb.

After subdivision of the southern side of Harmica in Zagreb, in 1827 Felbinger built two-storey houses for the merchant Pavle Hatz and himself. Felbinger’s three-winged two-storey house was located at Jelačić Square 15, while Hatz’s house was at number 16. These were demolished in 1925 due to construction of Milinov Hotel (now Dubrovnik Hotel).

An interesting example of Felbinger’s intervention is the one carried out on the adaptation of the house of a merchant Ivan Leitner, a modest corner building, and on the facade of an old pharmacy near the Stone Gate, which took on a monumental appearance by merger of the facades by adding fluted half-columns. In the same classicist style he also rebuilt and extended the summer residence of Bishop Aleksandar Alagović at Nova Ves 86.

The northern part of the Ludovik Jelačić Palace in the Grič Upper Town park (where the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service is located today) is also Felbinger’s work. He also built two significant Upper Town buildings: National Home Palace (Hall) at Opatička ulica 18 and the Magdalenić-Drašković-Jelačić Palace at Demetrova ulica 7 and 9, whereas it should be noted that only construction is attributed to him, but not the architectural designs.

Felbinger also worked on the former Greek Catholic Church of St. Basil, located at the site of today’s Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which was built in 1830.

In 1838, he was hired to work on construction of the Palace of Count Karlo Drašković at Opatička 18 and the retaining wall around the North Promenade (today Vraz Promenade), and in 1839, based on his own design, he built a school building in front of Popov toranj (Opatička ulica 22). His last known work was the first floor of a building on Krvavi Most in 1858.

Historical sources testify to his turbulent life and prominent role in the society, as well as his advanced age spent in a poorhouse. He was known to be a man of difficult character, often in conflict and going to court with neighbours and clients. Due to a lawsuit filed against him by Count Karlo Drašković, after a balcony collapsed on the eastern facade of the National Home Palace, we learn that Felbinger was the one who built this palace.

Affairs followed him both in his personal and professional life. He married three times, which was rare for the time, and all his marriages ended in scandal. His first wife, Josipa Stain (Stein), whom he married in February 1810, was a widow with two daughters. After her suicide in 1814, he married Josipa Felker (Fölker), who gave birth to his son Adolf. After the death of his second wife, in 1827 Felbinger married Sofija Reicherzer. Two years later, she filed for divorce due to adultery and abuse. The lawsuit dragged on until 1838 leaving him with a significant debt.

For several years, Felbinger was in conflict with the builders’ guild. This dispute was eventually resolved, but he continually fell into debt. After his house was sold at an auction in 1868, he asked to be admitted to a poorhouse.

Today, Felbinger is remembered through famous stairs located at the foot of Vraz Promenade and the Zagreb City Museum which connect Radićeva and Tkalčićeva ulica.

(A. T.)