(1731-1791)
Gontard began his career in Bayreuth as court master builder of Frederick II's favourite sister, the March Countess, Wilhelmine of Bayreuth, before he entered into the service of the Prussian King in 1764.
In 1765 he had the chief engineer's post at the New Palace, from 1771-77 the Great Military Orphanage was completely converted following his plans. The city side of the Brandenburg Gate on Luisenplatz square and numerous residential buildings were designed by him by order of the king and in accordance with his wishes. Already in 1768 he fell out of favour with the king who thereafter let all his orders to Gontard be conveyed by Unger.
The spectacular collapse of the half-constructed German Cathedral on the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin in the year 1781 is linked with the name Gontard. The likelihood is that the collapse was caused by low quality materials the king ordered him to use. Unger completed construction of the cathedral.
Gontard was promoted under Frederick William II and was involved in numerous construction projects in Berlin and Potsdam as the chief architect.
