
Thomas Laub Hansen Havning was a
Danish architect, illustrator, writer and royal building inspector born in
Nyboder
Nyboder (English language, English: New mallHouses) is a historic row house district of former Royal Danish Navy, Naval barracks in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was planned and first built by Christian IV of Denmark, Christian IV to accommodate a ...
,
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
on 4 September 1897.
Career
Thomas Havning graduated from the secondary school ''Borgerdydskolen'' in Copenhagen in 1909 and was admitted to the
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark.
History
The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...
in September 1909 from where he graduated with a degree in architecture in 1917. He was subsequently employed by Poul Holsøe and Jesper Tvede 1912-14 and by
Hack Kampmann
Hack Kampmann (6 September 1856 – 27 June 1920) was a Danish architect, Royal Inspector of Listed State Buildings in Jutland and professor at the architecture department of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus, ...
1916]-19.
From 1920 to 1963 he was the advising architect for the Danish Ministry for Education and from 1944 to 1961 he was royal building inspector. Havning won the
C. F. Hansen Medal in 1914 and the
Eckersberg Medal
The Eckersberg Medal (originally the ''Akademiets Aarsmedaille'' or Annual Academy Medal) is an annual award of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. It is named after Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, known as the father of Danish painting.
The ...
in 1935 (for his own house in
Valby
Valby () is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark. It is in the southwestern corner of Copenhagen Municipality, and has a mixture of different types of housing. This includes apartment blocks, terraced housing, area ...
). He received awards from
Copenhagen Municipality
Copenhagen Municipality (), also known in English language, English as the Municipality of Copenhagen, located in the Capital Region of Denmark, is the largest of the four municipalities that constitute the City of Copenhagen (), the other three ...
in 1921, 1935, 1944 and 1951. Havning was a member of the Censorship Committee at
Charlottenborg in 1920-23, 1927–36 and 1941, member of the board of the
Architects' Association of Denmark
The Danish Association of Architects ( Danish: , abbreviated to AA), is an independent professional body for architects in Denmark.
History
The Danish Association of Architects was founded at the initiative of L. A. Petersen on 21 November 187 ...
1918-23 and 1936–40, Vice Chairman in 1937-40 and Chairman in 1942-46. He received the Architects' Association's Honorary Medal in 1961.
Thomas Havning was a member of the Association for the Preservation of Old Buildings from 1937, ''Det Kongelige Akademi for de Skønne Kunster'' from 1940 to 1952, of ''Boligtilsynsrådet'' from 1940-1950, the parish council of ''Vor Frelsers Sogns'' 1922-34, of ''Det Særlige Kirkesyn'' for churches on
Bornholm
Bornholm () is a List of islands of Denmark, Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland.
Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. I ...
and in
Ribe
Ribe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,367 (2025). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It is now part of the enlarged E ...
,
Haderslev
Haderslev (; ) is a Denmark, Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark with a population of 22,405 (1 January 2025).[Tønder
Tønder (; ) is a town in the Region of Southern Denmark. With a population of 7,477 (as of 1 January 2025), it is the main town and the administrative seat of the Tønder Municipality.
History
The first mention of Tønder might have been in th ...]
and
Løgumkloster
Løgumkloster (; both mean 'Løgum monastery'), is a town in Tønder Municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark with a population of 3,519 (1 January 2025). .
Style
Thomas Havning grew up in a family with solid traditions in the arts and crafts; he had family relations to the composer
Thomas Laub
Thomas Linnemann Laub (5 December 1852 – 4 February 1927) was a Denmark, Danish organist and composer. He was associated with the 20th century revival of religious music in the country.
Biography
Thomas Laub was born on 5 December 1852. W ...
and the architect
Martin Nyrop
Martin Nyrop (11 November 1849 18 May 1921) was a Danish architect.
Early life and education
Nyrop was born on 11 November 1849 at Holmsland Municipality, Holmsland, Ringkøbing, the son of parish priest Christopher Nyrop (1805–1879) and Helen ...
. Havning's involvement with Holsøes and Tvedes architect's practice also informed his style. Combined these factors gave Havning a simple, Danish-inspired
Functionalist style focused on brick as the primary material. The project which best shows his style is Havning's own house for which he received the
Eckersberg Medal
The Eckersberg Medal (originally the ''Akademiets Aarsmedaille'' or Annual Academy Medal) is an annual award of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. It is named after Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, known as the father of Danish painting.
The ...
in 1935. the Customs- and Quarantine Building, in Copenhagen Frihavn (1942–43) and the Institute for the Blind on
Østerbro
Østerbro () is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day ...
in Copenhagen.
Between 1918 and 1933 Havning participated in a number of contests for church designs beginning with
St. Luke's Church in Aarhus in 1918. He designed
Allehelgens Church 1924-25,
Lindevang Church (1925–26) and
St. Mark's Church in Aarhus. The common element for Havning's church designs was a mix of
Neo-Baroque architecture
The Baroque Revival, also known as Neo-Baroque (or Second Empire architecture in France and Wilhelminism in Germany), was an architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term is used to describe architecture and architectu ...
and
Nicolai Eigtved
Nicolai Eigtved (4 June 1701 – 7 June 1754), also known as Niels Eigtved, was a Denmark, Danish architect. He introduced and was the leading proponent of the French rococo or late baroque style in Danish architecture during the 1730s–1740s. ...
's
Rococo
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...
style.
Havning's best known work from the later, modernistic period is ''Tjæreborg'', a building for Tobacco Taxation, in
Slotsholmsgade
Slotsholmsgade ( "Slotsholm Street") is a street which runs along the rear side of Børsen on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. Located next to the Danish parliament building Christiansborg, most of the buildings in the street house gov ...
, Copenhagen. Although the copper-clad modernistic building is both elegant and adjusted for its surroundings its uncharacteristic for Havning's work where brick is usually the norm.
Havning died 20 February 1976 in
Viborg and is buried on
Holmens Cemetery
Holmen Cemetery (Danish language, Danish: Holmens Kirkegård) is the oldest cemetery still in use in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was first located next to the Royal Danish Navy, naval Church of Holmen in the city centre but relocated to its current si ...
.
Exhibitions
*
Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling
Den Frie Udstilling ('The Free Exhibition') is a Danish artists' association, founded in 1891 by artists in protest against the admission requirements for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Modeled on the Salon des Refusés, it is Denmark's oldest asso ...
1914, 1919
*
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition
The Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition (''Charlottenborg Forårsudstilling'') is an annual art exhibition in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The event is held at the Charlottenborg Exhibition Building (''Kunsthal Charlottenborg'').
Kunsthal Cha ...
, 1918–36, 1941 (11 times with 6 works)
*
Charlottenborg Fall Exhibition, 1922
*
Worlds Fair in Paris, 1925
* Construction- and Housing Exhibition in
Forum
Forum or The Forum may refer to:
Common uses
*Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States
*Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city
**Roman Forum, most famous example
* Internet forum, discussion board ...
1929
*
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, 1942
Works
* Design of
Bispetorv by
Aarhus Cathedral
Aarhus Cathedral () is a cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the longest and tallest church in the country, at in length and in height.
The construction of Aarhus Cathedral began in the 12th century and it is the main edifice of the diocese of ...
(1918–21)
* Villa, Kirkevænget 15,
Valby
Valby () is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark. It is in the southwestern corner of Copenhagen Municipality, and has a mixture of different types of housing. This includes apartment blocks, terraced housing, area ...
(1919–20, præmieret af Københavns Kommune 1921)
[Mette Lund Jørgensen: ''Valby Bakke'', Forlaget Rhodos 2009. ]
* Villa, Mosehøjvej 4 A,
Ordrup
Ordrup is a district of Gentofte Municipality in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located circa north of the city centre.
History
Ordrup was originally a small village which only consisted of eight farms and a forge. The area ...
(1930–31)
* Eget hus, ''Valby Langgade 7 A'' (1934,
Eckersberg Medal
The Eckersberg Medal (originally the ''Akademiets Aarsmedaille'' or Annual Academy Medal) is an annual award of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. It is named after Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, known as the father of Danish painting.
The ...
)
* Allehelgens Church (1st prize 1922, built 1924-25 and 1931-32)
* Lindevang Church (1925–26, 1929–30)
*
St. Mark's Church in
Aarhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Ã…rhus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus municipality, Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and app ...
(1st prize 1933, built 1934-35)
* Building on ''Bombroen'' (1941)
* Custom- and Quarantine Building, Copenhagen Frihavn (1942–43)
* Rønne børneasyl, Damgade 5,
Rønne
Rønne () is the largest town on the Denmark, Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. It has a population of 13,675 (1 January 2025). It was a municipality in its own right from 1970 until 2002, when Bornholm was a Bornholm County, county (D ...
(1946–48)
* Toldkammerbygning, Havnen 13,
Nexø
Nexø, sometimes spelled Neksø, is a town on the east coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. With a population of 3,657 (as of 1 January 2025), it is the second largest town, as well as the largest fishing port on the island. Fishing ...
(1946–50)
* Institute for the Blind,
Randersgade
Randersgade () is a street in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, linking Nordre Frihavnsgade in the south to Strandboulevarden in the north. The small square Bopas Plads is located on the corner of Randersgade with Viborggade.
His ...
12, Copenhagen (1952)
* Falkonergårdens Gymnasium, Sønderjyllands Allé 25,
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg () is a part of the Capital Region of Denmark. It is an independent municipality, Frederiksberg Municipality, separate from Copenhagen Municipality, but both are a part of the region of Copenhagen. It occupies an area of less tha ...
(1955)
* Orphanage in
Tórshavn
Tórshavn (; ; Danish language, Danish: ''Thorshavn''), usually locally referred to as simply Havn, is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of th ...
, Varda Gøta (1955)
* Treatment home ''Bøgholt'', Bøgeskov Høvej, Aarhus (1956)
* Statens Husholdningsråds building, Amager Fælledvej 56 (1956)
* Virum Statsskole, Fuglsangvej 66 (1957)
* Regional office for the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
, Scherfigsvej 8,
Østerbro
Østerbro () is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day ...
, Copenhagen (1957)
* Building for Tobacco Taxation, ''Tjæreborg'',
Slotsholmsgade
Slotsholmsgade ( "Slotsholm Street") is a street which runs along the rear side of Børsen on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. Located next to the Danish parliament building Christiansborg, most of the buildings in the street house gov ...
12, Copenhagen (1962–67)
* School home ''Egevang'', Egebækvej 80,
Nærum
Nærum () is a suburban district in Rudersdal Municipality in the northern outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark. Quartered by the Helsingør Motorway running north–south and Skodsborgvej running east–west, Nærum is bounded by Jægersborg Heg ...
(1964)
* Retirement home ''Egebækhus'' for the deaf (Egebækvej 159, Nærum (1967)
* Addition to Helligåndshuset in Copenhagen,
Valkendorfsgade
Valkendorfsgad (literally "Valkendorf Street") is a street in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs from Købmagergade in the northeast to the Church of the Holy Ghost, Copenhagen, Church of the Holy Ghost in the southwest where it makes a ...
, Copenhagen (1967)
* Træningsskolen for arbejdsledige (Kofoeds School) at Kongelunden
* Main building of Langø
* Expansion of Bornholms Gymnasium,
Rønne
Rønne () is the largest town on the Denmark, Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. It has a population of 13,675 (1 January 2025). It was a municipality in its own right from 1970 until 2002, when Bornholm was a Bornholm County, county (D ...
* Rectories in
Fuglefjord,
Klaksvig,
Thorshavn and
Ejde on the
Faroe islands
The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...
* Dansk skole i
Bredsted
* Orphanage in Thorshavn
* Dormitory for the deaf in
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 17,990 (2025). It is the easternmost settlement on Funen. By road, it is located 34 km east of Odense, 35 km north of ...
References
External references
*
Ludvig Adolph Petersen on Wikimedia commons
{{DEFAULTSORT:Havning, Thomas
Danish architects
People from Copenhagen
1891 births
1976 deaths
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni
Recipients of the C.F. Hansen Medal
Havning