Josef Niklas

Josef Niklas (11 March 1817 – 10 October 1877) was a Czech architect, builder and pedagogue. In 1873–1874, he was the rector of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

Biography Josef Niklas was born on 11 March 1817 in Volyně. He graduated from a primary school in Český Krumlov and from the Polytechnic Institute in Prague. In 1836–1840, he was employed by the Prague builder Jindřich Fencl, then in 1841–1845, he worked for Leopold Mayer. In 1845, he travelled around Europe to study various architectural styles. He then returned to Prague and devoted himself to industrial drawings and private buildings according to his own designs.

From 1849, he was an assistant at the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT). From 1850, he taught at a real school in Prague 2. In 1864, he became a professor at the ČVUT, where he was also the Test Commissioner for Civil Surveyors.

Niklas died in Prague on 10 October 1877, aged 60.

Niklas is also the author of the Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angel (1858) in his native Volyně, the project of which he developed for the town free of charge.

Honours In 2017, Niklas was posthumously awarded Honorary Citizenship of the Town of Volyně.

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