Kunstnerhjemmet (literally "The Artists' Home") on Gothersgade, opposite the

Botanical Garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

, in

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 ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establishe ...

, was built in the 1870s to provide affordable accommodation and studio facilities for artists. Founded at the initiative of

Ferdinand Meldahl Ferdinand Meldahl (16 March 1827 – 3 February 1908) was a Danish architect best known for the reconstruction of Frederiksborg Castle after the fire in 1859. Meldahl was one of the leading proponents of historicism in Denmark. Biography He wa ...

, the association behind its construction later also acquired a building on nearby Bartolinsgade. The apartments in the two buildings are open to young, emerging artists as well as aging ones and their widows.

History

The Artists' Home is located within the so-called Fortification Ring, where Copenhagen's Bastioned Fortifications ran until they were decommissioned and dug away in the 1950s. The architect

was a key figure in its redevelopment as well as in the extension of Gothersgade as part of his Søtorvet scheme. He also took the initiative to found the association which was responsible for the construction and running of the Artists' Home. The association was founded on 23 January 1873. Its first chairman, as proposed by Meldahl, was Ole Berendt Suhr and after his death in 1875 the post was taken over by

Lauritz Peter Holmblad Lauritz Peter Holmblad (8 July 1815 – 16 November 1890), often referred to as L. P. Holmblad, was a Danish industrialist and philanthropist. His company, which was simply known as L. P. Holmblad, had activities in dyes, soap, glue and plati ...

. Meldahl personally served as vice chairman. Other members were the flower painter William Hammer and the architectural painter

Heinrich Hansen Heinrich Hansen is the name of: * Heinrich Hansen (painter) (1821-1890), Danish architectural painter * Heinrich Hansen (theologian) (1861-1940), German theologian * Adolf Heinrich-Hansen, painter {{hndis ...

, both personal friends of Meldahl. A long line of established artists donated works which were sold to raise money for the projects although the largest contributions came from the two first chairmen and other peers. The architect Henrik Hagemann agreed to design the building without payment. Construction began in 1877 and was completed the following year. In 1958, the Association for Acquisition of Residences for Artists purchased the nearby property Bartolinsgade 7. Its architect is unknown but it was completed in 1880.

Architecture

The building is five storeys tall and forms part of a closed block bounded by Gothersgade, Rømersgade, Linnégade and

Israels Plads Israels Plads (literally ''Israel's Square'') is a large public square in central Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the area between Nørreport station and The Lakes. Its north end is home to a covered food market while the south end is currently s ...

. It has six bays on Gothersgade a corner bay and seven bays on Rømersgade. Two bays on Gothersgade as well as the corner bay have large studio windows. Decorative elements include

chambranle In architecture and joinery, the chambranle is the border, frame, or ornament, made of stone or wood, that is a component of the three sides round chamber doors, large windows, and chimneys. When a chambranle is plain and without mouldings, it is ...

s, a series of reliefs between the windows of the top floor, a

cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...

supported by corbels beneath it. The façade on Rømersgade is somewhat more simple than the one on Gothersgade. The building was listed in 1987. Image:Kunstnerhjemmet - Tømersgade.JPG, The façade on Rømersgade Image:Kunstnerhjemmet - decorations.JPG, Decorations beneath the roof Image:Kunstnerhjemmet - studio window 2.JPG, The large studio windows Image:Kunstnerhjemmet - door frame.JPG, Decorations on the door frame

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 55.6852, 12.5706, type:landmark_region:DK, display=title Listed residential buildings in Copenhagen Residential buildings completed in 1878 Artists' studios in Copenhagen

History

Architecture

See also

References

External links