Which architect designed the Alte Pinakothek in Munich?

Leo von Klenze designed the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

King Ludwig I of Bavaria commissioned Klenze to create a purpose-built gallery for the Wittelsbach royal collection. Construction began in 1826 and the museum opened in 1836. Its long, carefully planned layout was intended for displaying paintings rather than housing a royal court, making it a landmark in museum architecture.

The building was advanced for its time because it used skylights and specialised north-light galleries to illuminate artworks. Its design influenced later museums across Europe, including galleries in Saint Petersburg, Rome, Brussels and Kassel.

A common mix-up is Friedrich von Gärtner, another important Munich architect who worked for Ludwig I. Gärtner designed or remodelled several major buildings in the city, but Klenze was the architect of the Alte Pinakothek. The museum was badly damaged during the Second World War and restored by Hans Döllgast between 1952 and 1957.