Max Littmann (3 January 1862 - 20 September 1931) was a Germanarchitect.
Littmann was educated in theChemnitz University of Technology and theDresden University of Technology. In 1885, he moved to Munich where he metFriedrich Thiersch andGabriel von Seidl and where - after two study trips to Italy and Paris - he established himself as a free architect.
During his lifetime, Littmann was listed in theEncyclopaedia Judaica. His pedigree doesn't give any clue on his often referenced Jewish descent; rather, he is descended from a Protestant family inOschatz (Saxony), which can be traced back for centuries.
In 1891, he joined the contracting business of his father-in-lawJakob Heilmann, thus transforming it into theHeilmann & Littmann general partnership (later becoming a limited partnership), taking charge of the planning department. Littmann excelled in the erection of magnificent buildings, e.g. theaters, department stores and spas and was the perfect supplement to Heilmann, who had specialized in living house construction.[citation needed]
In February 1905, two department stores opened their doors in Munich, both designed by Littmann, who at that time had already achieved the status of a prominent architect in the city. The Kaufhaus Oberpollinger and theWarenhaus Hermann Tietz were both prominently positioned in central Munich near theMünchen Hauptbahnhof (Munich Central Train Station). Littmann designed both department stores so that the exteriors were historicist, while the interiors providedconsumers with a modern shopping environment. Littmann arranged both department stores around anatrium with a glass and ironcupola. Littmann also insisted on state of the art building techniques, such asreinforcing steel, andreinforced concrete.[1] Littmann hired renowned Munich artists to help with the design of the two department stores, includingHeinrich Düll,Georg Pezold, andJulius Seidl.[2]
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