Architect. He received world-wide acclaim as an Austrian for his architecture in Vienna starting in the late 19th century. Born the son of Ignaz Ferstel, a banker residing what is now the Czech Republic, he studied art first in Prague and then architecture at the Vienna Art Academy under Eduard van de Null and August Sicard of Sicardsburg, His uncle was architecture Friedrich August von Stache, and he received experience with him working on the votive altar of the chapel of St. Barbara in St. Sephen's Cathedral in Vienna and with the restoration of many castles in Germany. He proved to be very talented winning competitions with study trips to Germany, Italy and France. He received a first prize in 1859 for his urban expansion project. Before his trip to Italy, he submitted his plan for competition for the Votive Church project, a Roman Catholic Church to be built near the University of Vienna. While in Italy, he learned that his plans had won over 74 plans from around the world. At first, he had a Romanticism style of architecture but that evolved into Renaissance after his trip to Italy. He built a long list of structures including the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts, the Austro-Hungarian Ban, Stock Exchange, churches, and private dwellings and villas. In his later years, he built several places in Austria and Germany for Royals. He was appointed professor at the Polytechnic School, in 1871 chief government inspector of public works, and in 1879 was given the high rank of Feriherr. Between 1877 and 1884, he built the main building of the University of Vienna. He received a long list of domestic and foreign awards including. Franz Joseph Order in 1863, the Officer's cross of the Order of the French Legion of Honor in 1878, and in 1879 the Order of the Iron Crown II Class and Honorary Member of the Fine Arts of Munich. Throughout the city, there are six busts or statues with three of them by Viktor Tilgne.