Biographical sketch J.F. Metzelaar (1818-1897) education Johan Frederik Metzelaar was born in Rotterdam on July 21, 1818. He took a carpentry course and evening supplementary drawing lessons in Rotterdam. In 1838 he established himself as an independent carpenter. In his business he trained several craftsmen, including, for example, the later architect J.H. Leliman (1828-1910). During Metzelaar's training at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam, he was one of the best students. Thus, the Academy gave him a gold medal for a competition design, and shortly after completing his studies, Metzelaar was appointed a teacher there. professional practice In 1847 Metzelaar established himself as an independent architect in Rotterdam. At that time he was also commissioned to rebuild the Rotterdam sugar factory, which had just burned down. This was followed by commissions for various steam factories. Rotterdam remained his main building site; there he designed the building of the subsidiary bank of the Nederlandsche Bank, the Officers' Society in the Park and the Washing, Bathing and Swimming Facility. In addition, he mainly designed villas, farms, coach houses, stables and mansions. In 1848, he participated in a competition for the Rotterdam Zuiderkerk. However, architect A.W. van Dam won first prize, Metzelaar second. Van Dam's design was also executed. In all, Metzelaar was active as an architect for thirty years. Other important buildings by his hand were: the Reading Cabinet, the Villa Hoboken (1849-1850, now Nature Museum) and storehouse Bunnekamp & Mähler, all in Rotterdam. The year 1870 marked an important period in Metzelaar's career as an architect. He was appointed Engineer-Architect for Prisons and Legal Buildings at the Department of Justice. He held this position until 1886, after which his son, architect W.C. Metzelaar, took over the post. In this position, Metzelaar built the penitentiary in Leeuwarden, the courthouse in Tiel, the district courts in Hilversum, Alphen, Apeldoorn and Geldermalsen, and the cellular prisons in Scheveningen, Breda, Arnhem and Groningen, among others. His son built the domed prison in Haarlem. The prisons in Scheveningen and Breda were praised for their domed iron roofs. Foreign governments were also very interested in his designs, also because of their construction. In Breda, the dome had a span of 56 meters. Consequently, Metzelaar was asked to join Sweden as a chief justice official. However, he turned this down, preferring to remain in the Netherlands. This while, according to a contemporary, he would be paid twice as much. ancillary activities In 1839 Metzelaar was appointed teacher of architecture at the Rotterdam Academy, and remained so until 1850. Starting in 1860, he then taught the history of architecture at the same Academy until 1868. Metzelaar was a member of the Maatschappij tot Bevordering der Bouwkunst from its founding in 1842. He also won several competitions issued by the Society, for example for a "large farmhouse with appurtenances. In 1892 he was appointed an honorary member. He also previously served on the board and was an honorary member of the Rotterdam branch of the Society. He was also an honorary member of the Pulchri Studio Society in The Hague. Furthermore, he was Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion and Knight in the Gustaaf-Wasa Order of Sweden. Metzelaar died on January 22, 1897 in Rotterdam.