Johan Conrad Ernst (16 June 1666 – 23 September 1750) was a Danish architect and royal

master builder A master builder or master mason is a central figure leading construction projects in pre-modern times (a precursor to the modern architect and engineer). Historically, the term has generally referred to "the head of a construction project in ...

. He was the son of Johan Adolf Ernst, a successful linen merchant who had immigrated from

Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...

and had a luxurious residence on

Amagertorv Amagertorv ( English: Amager Square), today part of the Strøget pedestrian zone, is often described as the most central square in central Copenhagen, Denmark. Second only to Gammeltorv, it is also one of the oldest, taking its name from the Am ...

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

Early life and titles

Little is known of his childhood or education but the Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger commented that the young man was sophisticated, sociable and widely traveled. At the age of 27, he already had the rank of royal master builder and became court assessor in 1703, counsellor to the chancery in 1709, counselor at law in 1716, and finally counselor of state in 1729.

Achievements

In 1696, as royal master builder, he was sent to Stockholm to assist Tessin in completing a wooden model and plans for a new residential palace for Christian V. The King intended to have it built on the Amalienborg site but nothing came of the venture. After the Great Fire in

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...

, Norway, on 19 May 1702, Ernst was among the architects drawn upon for the rebuilding of the city. He designed the Manufakturhuset and Hagerupgården, both completed in 1705. His early work also included Elers' Kollegium (1705) and a chapel in the Church of Holmen (1708). The following year, under instructions from the master builder general, Vilhelm Platens (1667–1732), Ernst became responsible for extending the recently built Frederiksberg Palace (1708–1709). On Platen's retirement, Ernst became his successor with an annual remuneration of 1,000 rigsdaler. KancBygn-grundplan-2

He had also had assignments at

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle ( da, Københavns Slot) was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bis ...

including the construction of the Boldhus (the king's indoor ball court). From 1718 to 1721, he converted the opera house to a training school for cadets and, for a time, coordinated the construction of

Fredensborg Palace Fredensborg Palace ( da, Fredensborg Slot; ) is a palace located on the eastern shore of Lake Esrum (Danish language, Danish, ''Esrum Sø'') in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand (Denmark), Zealand (''Sjælland'') in Denmark. It is the Danish ...

. During the same period, he designed the Gehejmearkivbygningen (1721) which is now part of the National Archives. In 1719, he constructed the Chancery Building on

Slotsholmen Slotsholmen ( English: The Castle Islet) is an island in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, and part of Copenhagen Inner City. The name is taken from the successive castles and palaces located on the island since Bishop Absalon constructed the ci ...

. Together with J.C. Krieger, he designed the fourth Copenhagen City Hall which was completed in 1728 but burnt down in 1795. From 1731, he spent a number of years coordinating the construction of Hirschholm Palace to the north of Copenhagen.

Family and property

On 23 April 1703, Ernst married Magdalene Foss who died in 1718. In 1719, he married Margrethe Elisabeth Weinmann, the widow of Anders Jacobsen Lindberg. Ernst was a highly respected, well-to-do gentleman. He owned the Aunsøgård estate near

Kalundborg Kalundborg () is a Danish city with a population of 16,211 (1 January 2022),Architecture of Denmark

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ernst, Johan Conrad Architects from Copenhagen 1666 births 1750 deaths