Richard Saran

Born in Magdeburg, the son of a parson, Saran studied at the pioneering Berlin Building Academy ("Bauakademie"), graduating in 1876.

In 1906 Saran obtained a senior post with the Prussian Ministry of Public Works: many of his surviving commissions are government office buildings from the second part of the twentieth century's first decade.

Later on his scope was extended to cover construction projects undertaken by the Foreign Ministry, and he was given reporting responsibilities involving the building of theatres and museums.

It was as part of this remit that in 1912 he was the recipient of massive criticism connected with drawn out planning process for rebuilding Berlin's New Royal Opera House, although many of the delays and other problems complained of were chiefly attributable to tensions involving freelance architects directly involved in the project and the planning authorities responsible.

During World War I Saran participated in planning for reconstruction in East Prussia, which had suffered much destruction at the hands of Imperial Russian Army during the opening hostilities.

Annex of the district government in Gumbinnen (1908–1910)