Name

Machytka, Johann

Variants
Machytka, Jan
Birth and Death
1844 – 1887
Website
Author and Date of Entry
Franziska Niemand 2024
Biographical Data

Johann Machytka from Bohemia studied architecture in Prague together with František Schmoranz (1845–1892). While Schmoranz worked in Cairo, Machytka continued his training at the Akademie der bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) in Vienna, under Theophil von Hansen, among others. In 1870–1871, he travelled to Sicily and Egypt.
When Schmoranz was commissioned in 1872 to design the Egyptian pavilion at the 1873 Vienna world’s fair, Schmoranz and Machytka co-founded an architectural studio in Vienna.
After their success with the Egyptian building group at the Vienna world’s fair, they realized projects such as the Arab Room at the k. k. Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie (Royal-Imperial Austrian Museum of Art and Industry); the Lehrerbildungsanstalt (Teacher Training Institution) at Kundmanngasse 20 in Vienna; and the School of Arts and Crafts in Prague. They also worked on projects that were not realized, such as the Mausoleum of Gül Baba in Budapest.
In 1884, Machytka was diagnosed with brain tuberculosis and interned in a lunatic asylum. He passed away in 1887.

Literature

Němeček, M. (2013). František Schmoranz le Jeune (1845-1892). In M. Volait (Ed.), Le Caire dessiné et photographié au XIXe siècle (pp. 117–138). Picard.

Niemand, F. (2019). „Orientalische“ Architektur und fotografische Dokumentation der Wiener Weltausstellung 1873 [Masterthesis]. Universität Wien.