Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves

Who was Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves?

Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves was a German architect, civil engineer and urban planner. Born in Uslar, Lower Saxony, he lived and worked most time in the city of Hanover and also died there. Being the leading architect of the Kingdom of Hanover, he has had great influence on the urban development of this town. Laves was, beside Karl Friedrich Schinkel in Prussia and Leo von Klenze in Bavaria, one of the most renowned neoclassical style architects of Germany. As an engineer he developed a special bridge construction principle with a typical fish belly design BBC, the so-called "Lavesbrücke". Laves has found his last resting place at Engesohde Cemetery in Hanover.

Among his most important works are:

Fully re-built of the Leineschloss, between 1816 and 1844.

Hanover Opera House, home base of Staatsoper Hannover, built between 1845 and 1852.

Wangenheim palace for Count Georg von Wangenheim, built between 1829 and 1832.