Schinkel in front of a reconstruction of a corner of the Bauakademie.

Karl Friedrich Schinkel studied under Friedrich Gilley at the Bauakademie in Berlin, and at the age of 19 he executed his first independent works as an architect - amongst them the Pomona Temple in Potsdam (1800-1801). Until 1803 he continued his architectural work, when he traveled to Italy and France, and he returned to Prussia in 1805, where he worked as a painter and stage designer. He was appointed Surveyor to the Prussian Building Commission ca. 1810. From that year Schinkel executed many important works in and around Berlin, influenced by a Neo-Greek style in opposition to the roman classicism favored by the French. His works from this period include Schauspielhaus (1819-21), Altes Museum (1822-30), both in Berlin.

From around 1830 Schinkel's works are influenced by mediaeval styles and italian villa style, such as Schloß Babelsberg (1832-35) and Römischer Bäder (1833-1840), both in Potsdam.

Schinkel was a teacher at the Bauakademie in Berlin, of which he was also the architect of the new building (1831-36).