František Schmoranz st.

František Schmoranz Sr. received his architectural education at the Vienna Academy, where he also worked as a foreman and draughtsman for builder Heinz. In 1837 he settled in Slatiňany, as his activities were closely connected with the princely family of Auersperg. Together with Benedikt Škvor, he participated in the completion of their local chateau (1857–1867). In his work, he focused mainly on purist reconstructions of church buildings. In the archives, designs of other churches and chapels he modified over the years have been preserved.

Schmoranz found his main field of creative activity in Eastern Bohemia. He was an advocate of the re-Gothicization, applying the morphology of this style throughout his creative career. His largest contract was the restoration of the original character of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Duch in Hradec Králové (1864–1876), related to the celebrations of the bicentenary of the establishment of the Hradec Králové bishopric. In addition to architectural restoration, Schmoranz also designed the sanctuary and the oratory. He worked on the renovation of the Church of St. James the Greater in Polička (1851–1872) and the Church of St. John the Baptist in Dvůr Králové nad Labem (1893–1900) as well. Working as the imperial and royal sight conservator, he also wrote situation reports on many buildings and proposed their rescue and reconstruction. Together with Benedikt Škvor, he designed the reconstruction of Žleby Castle in the spirit of Romantic historicism in 1849–1868. The castle was complemented by Gothic features on the outside to evoke the impression of a castle, while the Renaissance courtyard was left intact. Schmoranz also applied a perceptive approach to other types of buildings, e.g. he used Neo-Romanesque morphology for Protestant churches (in Čáslav, 1867–1869; in Raná, 1871–1873; in Nosislav, 1872–1876), and he designed several Neo-Renaissance buildings (e.g. the villa of Count Jiří Larisch-Mönnich in Pardubice, the so-called Zámeček / Mansion, 1885). 

In 1844 Schmoranz was appointed city builder in Chrudim. He left a significant mark there in the form of a number of buildings necessary for the further development of the town, which was affected by a large fire in 1850. He reconstructed and modified the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1857–1893), and restored other churches such as St. Michael, St. Cross and St. Catherine, the old municipal theatre (1852–1854), and the waterworks (1850–1852). In addition, he designed two bridges over the Chrudimka River in Široká Street (1845–1847), the courthouse (1858–1861), the grammar school (1863–1864), the hospital (1861–1863), the sugar refinery (1867), the brewery (1868), the distillery (1871), and the New Town fountain (1873). He was also active in the nearby town of Skuteč, where he built a new court building (1848–1852) and restored the Corpus Christi Hospital Church (1862–1865). In 1898, at the suggestion of Princess Wilhelmina Auersperg, he created a miniature of the so-called Cat Castle, a popular place for children, near the Slatiňany chateau. 

His work influenced many colleagues who applied similar tendencies in the design and reconstruction of buildings. He trained countless workers in construction and conservation and successfully introduced his sons František (1845–1892), Jan (1857–1899) and Gustav (1858–1930) to architecture. 

MP