Holger Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
Holger Jacobsen was a Danish
architect. His best known work is Stærekassen
, an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre
on Kongens Nytorv
in Copenhagen
.
. He apprenticed as a carpenter and furthered his studies at Odense Technical School before attending the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1898 to 1905 where he was a pupil of Hans Jørgen Holm
for whom he also worked as an assistant. After his graduation he worked abroad for a couple of years, and was influenced by the Mannerism and Baroque architecture
which he saw in France
, Spain
and Italy
. Another source of inspiration was Vilhelm Wanscher's lectures on Michelangelo
. He later described himself as the "last Italian in Danish architecture".
Jacobsen had his breakthrough with Bispebjerg Crematorium which was built from 1905 to 1906. Another early work was Taastrup New Church (1907) which was inspired by the architecture of northern Italy but in its details and interiors shows Jugendstil influences. He also undertook the rebuilding of the Circus Building
in Copenhagen
after it was devastated by fire in 1914 and led the completion of the new Copenhagen Police Headquarters (1922-24) after Hack Kampmann
's death.
In 1925, Jacobsen published a proposal for an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre
which had been suffering from lack of space ever since its inauguration in 1874. He was rewarded with the C. F. Hansen Medal
the same year and when an architectural competition was held he won it with a modified entry which included two extra stories with facilities for the new National Danish Broadcasting Company. The building, which became known as the Nesting Box
, was met with strong criticism, especially by Poul Henningsen
and his consorts in the influential magazine Critical Review. From its opening in 1931, it was also challenged in terms of functionality.
His later works consists of mainly residential and some office buildings.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architect. His best known work is Stærekassen
Stærekassen
Stærekassen , also known as Ny Scene is a theatre building annexed to the Royal Danish Theatre on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. It opened in 1931 to serve a dual purpose as an additional stage for the Royal Theatre and the first home of the new Danish Broadcasting Corporation...
, an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
on Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Biography
Holger Jacobsen was born on 30 October 1876 in OdenseOdense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
. He apprenticed as a carpenter and furthered his studies at Odense Technical School before attending the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1898 to 1905 where he was a pupil of Hans Jørgen Holm
Hans Jørgen Holm
Hans Jørgen Holm was a Danish architect. A pupil of Johan Daniel Herholdt, he became a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and a leading Danish proponent of the National Romantic style.-Biography:...
for whom he also worked as an assistant. After his graduation he worked abroad for a couple of years, and was influenced by the Mannerism and Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
which he saw in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Another source of inspiration was Vilhelm Wanscher's lectures on Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
. He later described himself as the "last Italian in Danish architecture".
Jacobsen had his breakthrough with Bispebjerg Crematorium which was built from 1905 to 1906. Another early work was Taastrup New Church (1907) which was inspired by the architecture of northern Italy but in its details and interiors shows Jugendstil influences. He also undertook the rebuilding of the Circus Building
Circus Building, Copenhagen
The Circus Building on Axel Torv in Copenhagen, Denmark. is a circular building completed in 1886 to serve as a venue for circus performances...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
after it was devastated by fire in 1914 and led the completion of the new Copenhagen Police Headquarters (1922-24) after Hack Kampmann
Hack Kampmann
Hack Kampmann was a Danish architect. His parents were the priest Christian Peter Georg Kampmann and Johanne Marie Schmidt...
's death.
In 1925, Jacobsen published a proposal for an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
which had been suffering from lack of space ever since its inauguration in 1874. He was rewarded with the C. F. Hansen Medal
C. F. Hansen Medal
The C. F. Hansen Medal is awarded annually with few exceptions to one or more recipients by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts for an outstanding contribution to architecture. It is the Academy's highest obtainable destinction for an architect. It is named after the architect C. F. Hansen and...
the same year and when an architectural competition was held he won it with a modified entry which included two extra stories with facilities for the new National Danish Broadcasting Company. The building, which became known as the Nesting Box
Stærekassen
Stærekassen , also known as Ny Scene is a theatre building annexed to the Royal Danish Theatre on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. It opened in 1931 to serve a dual purpose as an additional stage for the Royal Theatre and the first home of the new Danish Broadcasting Corporation...
, was met with strong criticism, especially by Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen , Danish author, architect and critic, was one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars. In Denmark, he is often referred to as PH.-Early life and education:...
and his consorts in the influential magazine Critical Review. From its opening in 1931, it was also challenged in terms of functionality.
His later works consists of mainly residential and some office buildings.
Selected buildings
- Missionshus, Reerslev (1906)
- Bispebjerg Crematory, Nispebjerg, Copenhagen (1906-07, extended in 1905-06 and 1932-34)
- Taastrup New Church, TaastrupTaastrupTaastrup is a Danish satellite-city of Copenhagen and the administrative seat of Høje-Taastrup Municipality, Region Hovedstaden. The population in 2011 is 32,406 .-Geography:...
(1907) - Forstædernes Bank, GlostrupGlostrupGlostrup Kommune is a suburban municipality and town in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand approx. 10 km west of Copenhagen in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 13 km², and has a total population of 20,673 . Its Zip code is 2600...
(1907) - East Chapel, Vestre CemeteryVestre CemeteryVestre Cemetery is located in a large park setting in the Kongens Enghave district of Copenhagen, Denmark. With its 54 hectares it is the largest cemetery in Denmark.Beautifully landscaped, it also serves as an important open space,...
, Copenhagen (1912-13) - Circus BuildingCircus Building, CopenhagenThe Circus Building on Axel Torv in Copenhagen, Denmark. is a circular building completed in 1886 to serve as a venue for circus performances...
(rebuilding), Copenhagen (1914) - Community house, Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen (1915)
- Office building (alteration), Assistens Cemetery, Copenhagen (1916)
- Hunting lodge, GlimmingeGlimmingehusGlimmingehus, located in Simrishamn Municipality, Scania, in southern Sweden, is the best preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. It was built 1499-1506, during an era when Scania formed a vital part of Denmark, and contains many defensive arrangements of the era, such as parapets, false...
, Sweden (1917) - Public housing, Birups Allé/Mågevej, Copenhagen (1918)
- Own summer house, GillelejeGillelejeGilleleje is, with a population of 6,491 , one of the main towns of the Gribskov municipality in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark. The town is at the northernmost point of Sjælland in Denmark.-Etymology:...
(1919) - Chapel and crematory, Sundby Cemetery, Copenhagen (1924)
- Own house, 6 Rosbæksvej , Copenhagen (1926)
- Villa, 1 Ceresvej FrederiksbergFrederiksbergFrederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
, Copenhagen (1928) - StærekassenStærekassenStærekassen , also known as Ny Scene is a theatre building annexed to the Royal Danish Theatre on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. It opened in 1931 to serve a dual purpose as an additional stage for the Royal Theatre and the first home of the new Danish Broadcasting Corporation...
, Kongens NytorvKongens NytorvKongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
, Copenhagen (1828-31, listed in 1995) - Aarhus Privatbank, Århus (1930)