Heinrich Karl Scheel (Latvian: Heinrihs Kārlis Šēls, 17 May 1829 – 13 April 1909) was a Baltic German architect who lived and worked in Riga, Latvia.

He is considered one of the greatest 19th century Riga architects and has designed more than 40 public and private buildings there.

Biography

Heinrich Scheel was born 17 May 1829 in Hamburg. In 1847, he started studies at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. After graduation in 1851 he became assistant of the architect and academy professor Ludwig Bohnstedt. In 1853, Scheel supervised the construction of the Riga Great Guild building (architect K. Beine). From 1860 to 1862 he, together with F. Hess, supervised the construction of the First Riga German Theater (architect Ludwig Bohnstedt) In 1862 Scheel became lecturer at the St. Peterburg Academy of Arts although his main workplace was Riga.

In the second half of 19th century Heinrich Scheel designed buildings in Riga, Ventspils and also Estonia. He has also restored many rooms at the Jelgava Palace.

In 1899 he, together with Friedrich Scheefel, created their own building office Scheel&Scheefel which became one of the pioneers of Art Nouveau architecture in Riga.

Heinrich Scheel died on 13 April 1909 in Riga and he is buried at the Riga Great Cemetery.

Architecture

Heinrich Scheel mostly worked in Eclectic styles. Most buildings are designed in Neo-Renaissance forms, but he also used Neo-Gothic or mixture of them both. In the beginning of the 20th century he was one of the first architects who started to work in Art Nouveau style.