Biography Christian Hansen (architect)

1 biography

1.1 life , career
1.2 years in athens
1.3 homecoming , work in denmark

biography
early life , career

christian hansen born in copenhagen. attended royal danish academy of fine arts in copenhagen 1816, 13 years old, studied under christian frederik hansen, leading danish architect of time, , gustav friedrich hetsch. christian frederik hansen taught him rational approach architecture , hetsch introduced him schinkel influence had brought denmark.

in 1831 christian hansen won academy s large gold medal , travel scholarship. set out on journey italy , greece, first spending 2 years in italy, in rome , sicily.

years in athens

the university in athens

in 1833, hansen travelled athens, been chosen new capital of nascent greece had gained independence ottoman empire. @ time, athens small village few thousand inhabitants, chosen capital historic , sentimental reasons. therefore set massive redevelopment become modern metropolis. hansen won favour of king otto , appointed court architect in 1834. in 1838, joined brother theophilus had studied architecture @ academy in copenhagen had been unsuccessful in getting commissions.

christian hansen s famous work in athens original main building national , kapodistrian university of athens. construction started in 1839 using proceeds of fund-raising campaign greeks @ home , abroad. inaugurated in 1841, though not entirely completed until 1864 due lack of funds. built in marble in greek revival style, known neohellenic classicism, of considered 1 of important examples , source of inspiration many other buildings of time, particularly in germany. part of so-called neoclassical, or athenian, trilogy completed brother academy of athens , national library of greece.

hansen designed private houses , churches. latter include anglican st. paul s church. designed in mixed victorian , gothic revival style.

Österreichischer lloyd s arsenal , dockyards @ trieste, c. 1900

hansen s work in athens involved archeological excavations , investigations. german architect eduard schaubert excavated , reconstructed temple of athena nike @ acropolis , contributed compilation of material joseph hoffer s account of horizontal curvature , optical corrections in greek temples.

hansen s reputation reached outside greece , in 1850 Österreichischer lloyd commissioned him build marine arsenal , dockyards @ trieste. extensive building complex designed in rundbogenstil details inspired byzantine architecture constructed 1852 1856.

homecoming , work in denmark

Østervold observatory, 1861

after revolt in september 1843 in athens, nationalist wave made hard foreigners work in greece. in 1851, hansen returned denmark after 20 years abroad. appointed royal building inspector funen , surrounding islands had let else, c. a. møller, temporarily take care of obligations due engagements lloyds in trieste.

in 1867, became member of academy in copenhagen , royal building inspector zealand, lolland , falster. same year took on professorial chair in architecture @ academy had become vacant michael gottlieb bindesbøll s death year before.

as practicing architect, hansen never got prominent role in denmark upon return have been expected after achievements abroad. in copenhagen built municipal hospital in rundbogenstil had applied in trieste. Østervold observatory built on former fortifications of city replace astronomical observatory @ round tower. university of copenhagen designed zoological museum in krystalgade in renaissance revival style. building today used university s administration lavishly decorated grand hall, large, stuffed animals used on display, used exhibitions.

christian hansen died in 1883 , interred @ assistens cemetery.