fˈaʊndᵻd ˌɔn ˈeɪtiːn mˈɑːɹtʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn baɪ kˈɪŋ fɹˈɛdɚɹˌɪk wˈɪljəm ɹˌoʊmən θɹˈiː, ðɪ ˌɪnstɪtˈuːʃən ɚɹˈɪdʒᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌmðə kənstɹˈʌkʃən dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ʌvðɪ ɐkˈædəmi ʌv fˈaɪn ˈɑːɹts ænd mᵻkˈænɪkəl sˈaɪənsᵻz fɹʌm wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹ, wˌɪtʃ ˈɛmfɐsˌaɪzd ðɪ ɛsθˈɛɾɪk ˈɛlɪmənts ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹt ʌv bˈɪldɪŋ wˌaɪl ɪɡnˈoːɹɪŋ ðə tˈɛknɪkəl.
Founded on 18 March 1799 by King Frederick William III, the institution originated from the construction department of the Academy of Fine Arts and Mechanical Sciences (from 1704), which emphasized the aesthetic elements of the art of building while ignoring the technical.